Coming off a loss at home against the Trail Blazers, the banged up Sixers will fly north take on Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.
The Sixers are coming off a 119-102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but won’t have much time to dwell on it as they head to Minnesota for what will be their final matchup against the Timberwolves this season.
Minnesota has had a turbulent year — not quite on the level of the Sixers, but turbulent nonetheless. The team has been streaky, with key players like Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Mike Conley all missing significant time.
The Wolves’ season hasn’t gone as planned, with many pointing to the early-season Karl-Anthony Towns trade as the turning point. They’ve struggled with floor spacing between Randle and Rudy Gobert, and a lack of stability at point guard has often forced DiVincenzo into a de facto playmaking role when healthy.
Even with their struggles, the Timberwolves remain a respectable team, currently holding a 33-29 record and staying firmly in the play-in mix in a highly competitive Western Conference. They also have a guy you might’ve heard of in Anthony Edwards. The former No. 1 overall pick is in the midst of his best season yet, averaging 27.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on impressive 43.9/40.6/84.2 shooting splits. Edwards has been the driving force keeping the Wolves afloat, preventing their season from completely unraveling.
The majority of Minnesota’s success comes on the defensive end, where they boast the NBA’s sixth-best defense. Offensively, they sit in the middle of the pack, ranking 13th in the league. The Sixers, on the other hand, have struggled on both ends, ranking 23rd in offense and 25th in defense.
The Sixers are in rough shape, and that might be putting it lightly. Tyrese Maxey (back contusion) and Justin Edwards (lower leg injury) both left their last game, adding to an already brutal injury list. Paul George missed the previous matchup with a groin strain and his status remains uncertain. Kelly Oubre, Jr. was also out against Portland with an illness. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon are out for the season, making the team’s situation even more dire.
With their postseason hopes fading fast, the Sixers now trail the Bulls by 2.5 games for the final play-in spot and sit a staggering 12 games back from a guaranteed playoff berth. If Maxey is out, winning this game becomes an even taller task — a silver lining for those keeping an eye on draft position.
Can the Sixers pull off another improbable win like they did against the Warriors, or will the tank keep rolling? Let’s find out.
Game Details
When: Monday, March 4, 2025, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Target Center, Minnesota, MN
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers