Minnesota Sports Forum

Tony Brothers called me last night to let me know Secaucus reviewed our Bucks GDT and determined that Tim stepped into AussieWolf's landing space during one of his posts, and has been assessed a flagrant foul and suspended from teeing up the GDT for one game. So just like Joan, I will step in for one game.

Tonight is the first of two games against teams we are battling in the standings. Ant is out for another game with his foot injury, but we get Rudy back. Playing without your leading scorer is challenging, but let's not forget the Wolves are 4-2 without Ant, with the only losses to Denver and the Lakers. The Wolves are going to have to bring the same energy they brought against the Bucks to win this one.

It helps a little that Houston had a tough game against OkC last night...Thompson played 40 minutes and Durant 37. You have to wonder how much 37-year-old KD will have in the tank tonight. We are going to have to be tough on the defensive boards, because the Rockets are a terrific offensive rebounding team...they had 23 last night as they outrebounded the Thunder 60-43. This may not be a very good matchup for Joan with his struggles on the defensive boards.

Rockets are a 4 1/2 point favorite, but this is a winnable game if we rebound well.

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:33 am Tony Brothers called me last night to let me know Secaucus reviewed our Bucks GDT and determined that Tim stepped into AussieWolf's landing space during one of his posts, and has been assessed a flagrant foul and suspended from teeing up the GDT for one game. So just like Joan, I will step in for one game.

Finally! It's good to see justice served in these trying times

Adams is now off the injury list, so the Rockets will have all three of their offensive rebounding monsters...Sengun, Thompson and Adams. This doesn't seem to be a good matchup for Joan, so I think our usual three bigs will take all 96 C and PF minutes.

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:51 pm Adams is now off the injury list, so the Rockets will have all three of their offensive rebounding monsters...Sengun, Thompson and Adams. This doesn't seem to be a good matchup for Joan, so I think our usual three bigs will take all 96 C and PF minutes.

Yeah, I don't have a good feeling about this game at all tonight. We are probably feeling cocky with the Bucks win. And we will miss ANT tonight. (Adams DID play last night against the Thunder)

I'm concerned about ANT. We just had two days rest, and he can't go tonight? Maybe they are looking at the Spurs game as more important and are just avoiding having ANT play a back-to-back. But if ANT could go, don't you think he would prefer to go against his idol, KD?

We could be looking at a 2-game losing streak. I hope they prove me wrong.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:07 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:51 pm Adams is now off the injury list, so the Rockets will have all three of their offensive rebounding monsters...Sengun, Thompson and Adams. This doesn't seem to be a good matchup for Joan, so I think our usual three bigs will take all 96 C and PF minutes.

Yeah, I don't have a good feeling about this game at all tonight. We are probably feeling cocky with the Bucks win. And we will miss ANT tonight. (Adams DID play last night against the Thunder)

I'm concerned about ANT. We just had two days rest, and he can't go tonight? Maybe they are looking at the Spurs game as more important and are just avoiding having ANT play a back-to-back. But if ANT could go, don't you think he would prefer to go against his idol, KD?

We could be looking at a 2-game losing streak. I hope they prove me wrong.

I'm really high on this team right now, Tim, but I have some of the same concerns you do about the next two games. Can we have the same no-Ant adrenaline that we had against the Bucks? I don't know. I do like though that so many Rockets played a lot of minutes last night. Old man KD has to be pretty sore today, and he's a big part of their offense. I also like that Ant will be on the bench tonight, both because he is such a great cheerleader, and also it makes me think he might play tomorrow.

My hot take: Rob gets more minutes tonight than Joan.

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:40 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:07 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:51 pm Adams is now off the injury list, so the Rockets will have all three of their offensive rebounding monsters...Sengun, Thompson and Adams. This doesn't seem to be a good matchup for Joan, so I think our usual three bigs will take all 96 C and PF minutes.

Yeah, I don't have a good feeling about this game at all tonight. We are probably feeling cocky with the Bucks win. And we will miss ANT tonight. (Adams DID play last night against the Thunder)

I'm concerned about ANT. We just had two days rest, and he can't go tonight? Maybe they are looking at the Spurs game as more important and are just avoiding having ANT play a back-to-back. But if ANT could go, don't you think he would prefer to go against his idol, KD?

We could be looking at a 2-game losing streak. I hope they prove me wrong.

I'm really high on this team right now, Tim, but I have some of the same concerns you do about the next two games. Can we have the same no-Ant adrenaline that we had against the Bucks? I don't know. I do like though that so many Rockets played a lot of minutes last night. Old man KD has to be pretty sore today, and he's a big part of their offense. I also like that Ant will be on the bench tonight, both because he is such a great cheerleader, and also it makes me think he might play tomorrow.

My hot take: Rob gets more minutes tonight than Joan.

I think Joan plays. Houston is one team where playing Naz at the 3 for some minutes may actually make sense. And while Joan will surely get pushed around in the paint, I believe his fresh legs and ability to run the floor could allow him to snag some easy baskets against the slower and tired legs of the Houston bigs.

Conventional wisdom says you can get by without a star player the first game, but It catches up to you sooner or later. We're not supposed to win tonight so I'm just going to enjoy it and cheer like it's back in the old days. Winning tonight would be a big bonus

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:55 pm Conventional wisdom says you can get by without a star player the first game, but It catches up to you sooner or later. We're not supposed to win tonight so I'm just going to enjoy it and cheer like it's back in the old days. Winning tonight would be a big bonus

Yeah, it's kind of like what we were thinking going into the last BTB...most of us said we would be satisfied with one out of two, and that's what we got. Same thing here. But if somehow we come away with 2 wins this weekend, the optimism on this board will be sky high.

Conley starting. Not a terrible thing since he can guard Okogie.

Randle misses a wide open Rudy for an easy dunk early in a possession then banks in a well contested 3-pointer late. I'll take it!