Minnesota Timberwolves Brawl Suspensions Handed Out
It’s getting down to the final few games of the season for the Minnesota Timberwolves . They need all hands on deck if they are going to work their way up the Western Conference playoff standings. On Sunday night there were plenty of hands, but that will have rippling effects this week.
With the Detroit Pistons in town, the Minnesota Timberwolves squared off against former teammate Malik Beasley . They ended up outlasting their opponent on the court, but did so without Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid .
Donte DiVicenzo and Naz Reid suspended for Minnesota Timberwolves
In a scene reminiscent of the Malice at the Palace , Minnesota and Detroit got into a brawl that spilled into the crowd. DiVincenzo and Reid were Minnesota’s involved players and both were sent to the showers early. They each have now been suspended an additional game as well.
Malik Beasley came out of the gates firing. He was feeling himself after some early buckets and DiVincenzo took exception to the yapping. Veteran Isaiah Stewart didn’t like that too much and stood over DiVincenzo after a foul. Reid got fouled by Pistons rookie Ron Holland II and the Timberwolves veteran guard wasn’t having any of that.
At that point the scrap was on. DiVincenzo laid the ground work and he backed it up in a big way. Despite being undersized in comparison to Holland II, he had the 2024 5th overall pick off balance and the fracas only grew. Reid and DiVincenzo were joined in the locker room by assistant coach Pablo Prigioni who was also tossed.
MN Timberwolves shorthanded against Nuggets
Minnesota is on the road Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets . Denver head coach Mike Malone made waves on Monday night by suggesting that the Timberwolves view the Nuggets as their sort of marquee matchup. Whether there’s validity to that or not, Chris Finch will need someone to step up.
DiVincenzo and Reid are both key members of the rotation. The former is averaging 11.6 points per game in 56 contests this season. The latter’s 14.4 points per game are a career-high , and he’s in line for a nice big payday . Minnesota is 3-0 against the Nuggets this season, and the latest win came in Denver.
Minnesota has seven games left, including five-straight on the road. They are 43-32, which is good for 7th in the Western Conference. If the playoffs started today , they would host the Los Angeles Clippers for the first round of the play-in tournament. They are just three games back of the Lakers for 4th place, and only one game back of the Grizzlies for 5th place.
