Thursday night took a turn for the worse for the Minnesota Timberwolves during their 110-105 loss to the Toronto Raptors. In the final moments, with the Timberwolves trailing by four and just 11.4 seconds on the clock, Naz Reid collided knee-to-knee with the returning Scottie Barnes. The impact sent Reid to the floor, visibly in pain, cutting short any hopes of a comeback.
It was a worrying scene for the Timberwolves’ big man. Immediately after hitting the floor, Naz Reid slapped the hardwood in frustration before grabbing his left knee, signaling that the injury might be serious. To make matters worse, the timing of the injury couldn’t have been more frustrating—occurring with the game nearly out of reach and Minnesota’s chances of a comeback already slim.
It was a tough night for Reid, who managed just two points and four rebounds in 22 minutes before suffering what appears to be a significant injury. The Timberwolves will be hoping it’s not serious, as they can’t afford a long-term absence given their current struggles.
The loss to the Raptors drops Minnesota to 8-7 this season—a respectable record but not quite at last year’s level. The Timberwolves are still adjusting after the major offseason trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks, disrupting the team’s chemistry. They have yet to find a steady rhythm, with five of their losses coming against opponents with sub-.500 records, a sign that consistency remains elusive.
Reid was expected to play a crucial role in filling the void left by Karl-Anthony Towns, utilizing his offensive versatility to contribute at both big man positions. If Reid ends up sidelined for an extended period, it would be a significant setback for the Timberwolves, who are already grappling with adjustments in the post-Towns era. His absence could leave a considerable gap in their frontcourt production and further complicate their search for consistency this season.
If Naz Reid faces a lengthy recovery, it’s likely that Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle will see increased minutes to compensate. In scenarios where the Timberwolves need more floor spacing, they might choose to deploy Randle at the center position, with Jaden McDaniels stepping in at power forward. This adjustment could allow the Timberwolves to maintain offensive versatility while giving them the option for a more mobile and shooting-oriented lineup when necessary.
With their frontcourt depth under strain and Mike Conley sidelined with a toe injury, the Timberwolves have been leaning heavily on a tight eight-man rotation. This limited approach shows a lack of trust in their bench, but the situation might force them to broaden their options. Luka Garza could be a candidate to crack the rotation, providing additional size and scoring ability in the paint if Reid’s absence stretches longer than anticipated.
