Good Morning, Illini Nation: A must-see NBA matchup
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Good Morning, Illini Nation: A must-see NBA matchup
Oct. 30—Keaton Wagler spent his pre-draft process training in Minneapolis. That allowed Wagler to hit the Target Center and watch fellow former Illinois guards Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their stretch run before the playoffs.
Now, Wagler will lineup against Dosunmu and Shannon for the first time when the Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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Wagler has come off the bench behind Darius Garland and Kris Dunn in the first four games of his NBA career. The 6-foot-6 rookie hasn't let that role keep him from averaging 15 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the 1-3 Clippers. Wagler has struggled inside the arc — shooting just 20 percent on his two-point attempts — but he's made 39.1 percent of his three-pointers and is knocking down 87.1 percent of his free throws.
The free throw line is where Wagler lived Wednesday night in a 103-87 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. While he shot just 4 of 15 overall, including a 3 of 8 mark from beyond the arc, he made 10 of 12 free throws to post a new career high of 21 points.
Dosunmu and Shannon started the season strong for Minnesota, but both of their roles will increase with Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards out at least eight weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee.
Dosunmu has earned every bit of his new five-year, $112 million deal so far, averaging 13 points, four assists and 3.8 rebounds while posting a 49/44/75 shooting slash. The 6-4 guard, now in his sixth season in the league, put up 17 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds in Wednesday's 119-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
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Shannon scored a season-high 19 points against the Warriors, while adding six rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. The 6-6 guard is making his case for the next big Minnesota contract (or from somebody else) by averaging 14.2 points on 47/44/75 shooting to go with 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game to start his third season in the NBA.
In other former Illini in the NBA news, Kasparas Jakucionis has seen his playing time increase for the Milwaukee Bucks despite not starting like he did for part of his rookie season with the Miami Heat. The 6-5 guard is struggling from three-point range — knocking down just 23 percent of his shots beyond the arc — but is putting up nine points, 4.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game off the bench.
Will Riley's fortunes have shifted drastically. The 6-9 wing started 18 of the 74 games he played for the Washington Wizards during his rookie year, with 15 of those starts coming in the last month of the season. Now, Riley has played just 10 total minutes across three games this month, as he's fallen behind the combination of Bilal Coulibaly, AJ Dybantsa, Justin Champagnie and Khris Middleton and out of the Wizards' rotation.
