MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves’ postseason hasn’t gone exactly to plan.
Between Donte DiVincenzo’s season-ending Achilles tear, Anthony Edwards’ knee hyperextension and Ayo Dosunmu’s heel soreness, the Wolves had to move pieces around to close out the first-round series against the Nuggets.
Luckily, for the Timberwolves, their depth came out to play–and stepped up big time.
For the Illini faithful watching from Champaign, that injury crisis provided a unique opportunity to watch two recent Illinois basketball legends, Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr., carry the scoring load in multiple playoff games.
But the stats have varied quite a bit. During the Nuggets series, when the roster was at its thinnest, Dosunmu played the hero and exploded for 43 points in Game 4.
On the other hand, Shannon Jr. didn’t see the floor for the first three games of the series. But when Dosunmu himself sat out of Game 6, Shannon Jr. filled the void and finished with 24 points in 35 minutes to help the Timberwolves seal their ticket to the second round.
However, the second-round series against the San Antonio Spurs has acted as a reality check for Illini fans.
With Anthony Edwards back at his best, now fully healthy, his usual 40-minute nights have taken the former Orange and Blue in Minnesota out of the spotlight.
There’s one clear correlation: as Edwards’ usage returns to superstar levels, the scoring ceilings for Dosunmu and Shannon Jr. are dropping, even if their minutes remain respectable. In Game 3 against San Antonio, Edwards tallied 32 points. In return, Shannon Jr. and Dosunmu stuck to their secondary roles and totaled for just 16 points in 60 minutes combined.
So, what can TCR readers expect for the remainder of the playoffs?
Expect the minutes to stay. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch clearly trusts the Illini duo on the court whether they’re scoring or not. But the days of Dosunmu and Shannon Jr. putting up superstar numbers on the same night are likely over as long as Edwards is healthy.
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