Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards struggled to get points on the board but went close to his first career triple-double in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Mavericks. Edwards shot a very good 5-for-12 from downtown, but he finished 6-for-16 overall from the field and managed only 19 points. However, he led his team with 11 rebounds and eight assists, adding a pair of steals to his stat line. Edwards has had a huge postseason campaign, but after playing 44 minutes in Game 7 against Denver on Sunday, he logged 41 minutes on Wednesday and looked gassed in the closing stages. The games are coming thick and fast, with Game 2 of the series scheduled for Friday, and the Timberwolves will be in big trouble if Edwards can't get his energy levels back.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels opened Wednesday's Game 1 against Dallas with 4-for-4 three-point shooting and was the team's top scorer in the end in a 108-105 loss with 24 points. The 23-year-old enjoyed his third consecutive 20-point effort with 9-for-15 shooting, hitting six of his nine attempts from behind the arc. McDaniels' night also included four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Minnesota's young forward has built himself a reputation as a very good defensive player, and he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team at the start of the week. But McDaniels has also been on a roll offensively lately thanks to some very sharp three-point shooting, going 12-for-18 from deep across his last three appearances.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (calf) is questionable for Wednesday's postseason battle with the Mavericks. The 36-year-old suffered a right Soleus strain during the Western Conference semifinals against OKC. While the injury cost him Game 5, he was available for the series' final two contests. Conley averaged 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and shot 52.9% from deep in four regular-season meetings versus Dallas. However, he's not always reliable for DFS purposes, and he may be even less dependable due to the injury.

On Tuesday, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Gobert has been named to the All-Defensive first team seven times during his 11-year career. Minnesota's big man has been a critical factor in the Timberwolves' postseason run to the Western Conference Finals, starting Wednesday against Dallas. The Defensive Player of the Year has suited up for 10 playoff games, averaging 12.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals across 34.3 minutes on the court per game.

New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle could land on a new squad for next season. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, teams are "monitoring" Randle's situation in New York. The three-time All-Star will be eligible to sign a four-year, $190 million contract extension this offseason. His current deal runs until the summer of 2026, with a $32 million player option for the final season. Randle's 2023-24 campaign was largely ruined by a shoulder injury, but the 29-year-old played at a high level when in the lineup, averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.