Analysis
Ball took half of Minnesota's three-point attempts in the loss to Chicago. Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels gave the Wolves a better reason to share the offense when the jumper stopped falling.
Analysis
Chicago makes 28.9% of its threes, last in the league, and lives at the rim and the free-throw line instead. With Caleb Wilson out after hand surgery, the Wolves should pack the paint on Saturday and let the Bulls fire away.
Analysis
The Wolves beat Dallas 133-94 on Thursday, and Cooper Flagg went to the line once. Minnesota guarded a star who lives at the line without sending him there, and it should defend every high-volume foul drawer that way.
Analysis
Dosunmu is averaging 21.6 points and has made 22 of 23 free throws since replacing Anthony Edwards in the starting five. When Edwards is back, he should finish close games ahead of Jonathan Kuminga.
Analysis
McDaniels is collecting 6.1 rebounds a game, up from 4.2 last season. Minnesota should protect that progress as his offensive responsibilities grow.
Analysis
Opponents are scoring 99.8 points per 100 possessions with Rudy Gobert on the floor and 115.8 without him. He's playing 29.9 minutes a night, his fewest in five Minnesota seasons, and that number should go up while Anthony Edwards is out.
News
The Wolves are signing Johni Broome to fill the two-way spot Norchad Omier turned down. He's the right kind of player for it, and his rebounding in Iowa, not his scoring, should decide whether he sticks.
Analysis
Cooper Flagg scored 43 on Monday and makes 83.3% of his shots at the rim, but only 39.2% from three to 10 feet. On Thursday the Wolves should wall off the basket, keep their hands back and stay home on Kyrie Irving.
Analysis
Minnesota's starting five committed 20 of its 22 turnovers against Utah. The scoring was enough Sunday, but the homestand needs cleaner possessions.
Analysis
Utah has lost seven straight and gives the ball away more than almost anyone. Chris Finch is proud of how LaMelo Ball is competing on defense. On Sunday, the Wolves should turn Jazz mistakes into the easy baskets New Orleans got on Friday.
Analysis
Minnesota and New Orleans scored 88 points apiece from the field on Friday. The Wolves, the league's worst free-throw shooting team, won 115-109 because they made 27 free throws to the Pelicans' 21. That's the formula for Sunday against Utah too.
Analysis
New Orleans takes fewer threes than anyone, lives at the rim and makes more free throws than any team in the league. In Friday's NBA Cup game, the Wolves should pack the paint, keep their hands back and let the Pelicans' guards shoot.
Analysis
Kuminga is shooting 46.3% from three and has seven turnovers in nine games, playing the smallest role of his career. With Anthony Edwards out, Minnesota should fix his short game and leave the rest alone.
Analysis
Rudy Gobert scored eight points and went 2-of-6 at the line in the 117-107 win over the Rockets. He was still a big reason Minnesota won, and his last two minutes showed why the Wolves need him without Anthony Edwards.
News
Omier backed out of a two-way deal with Minnesota to join Cleveland. The Wolves should still spend the open spot on frontcourt size, because the Spurs game showed how thin it is.
Analysis
With Clint Capela and Steven Adams out, the only center behind Şengün is a two-way player. The Wolves should make Şengün defend on every trip and own the glass in the minutes he sits.
Analysis
Ball carried the scoring against Milwaukee. With Ayo Dosunmu handling more of the passing, Minnesota found a division of labor worth keeping.
