{"id":702170,"date":"2026-04-06T22:57:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/702170\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T22:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T22:57:23","slug":"timberwolves-need-to-reverse-present-course-vs-lowly-pacers-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/702170\/","title":{"rendered":"Timberwolves need to reverse present course vs. lowly Pacers – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minnesota coach Chris Finch admits the Timberwolves are \u201ca million miles\u201d away from where he\u2019d like them to be \u2014 and where they ought to be at this stage of the season.<\/p>\n

Clinging to sixth position in the Western Conference \u2014 three games ahead of the seventh-place Phoenix Suns above the play-in cut \u2014 Minnesota (46-32) will be seeking to reverse a three-game slide with a victory over the host Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The Wolves\u2019 recent slump continued with a 122-108 loss to the Charlotte Hornets in Minneapolis on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Charlotte raced to a 29-21 lead after the first quarter, Minnesota responded to gain a 60-55 halftime lead, then the Hornets seized full control with a 34-19 third period.<\/p>\n

When asked whether the Timberwolves\u2019 spirit is down, Finch was forthright.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor sure,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels like we\u2019re a million miles away from the team that we can be and that we are. We\u2019ve got to get that back with our connectiveness and our spirit. And we\u2019ve got to have some guys just play better\u2026 We\u2019ve got to make all the little plays, the gritty plays, just stay in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves\u2019 cause has been hurt by the absence of two of their stars.<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards, who didn\u2019t play against Charlotte and has missed eight of Minnesota\u2019s past 10 games with a right knee issue, has been ruled out of Tuesday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

Jaden McDaniels is week-to-week, having missed five straight with a left knee injury.<\/p>\n

Edwards leads the Wolves in scoring, averaging 28.9 points per game, while McDaniel\u2019s 14.8 average ranks him third.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no excuse as to who\u2019s in or out of the line-up right now,\u201d veteran guard Mike Conley said. \u201cWe just feel like we should play a better brand of basketball regardless of who\u2019s on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indiana (18-60) has been dealing with a far deeper injury crisis all season to plummet, in the space of 12 months, from NBA Finals participants to being one game above the worst record in the league entering Monday.<\/p>\n

All-Star forward Pascal Siakam (ankle) and guard Ben Sheppard (hip) were the latest additions to the long list, missing the Pacers\u2019 117-108 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Siakam is out, while Sheppard is questionable.<\/p>\n

Indiana stuck with the Cavs for three quarters before being broken 27-17 in the fourth.<\/p>\n

Center Micah Potter celebrated his return to the starting lineup \u2014 and the announcement he and his wife Elle will be having a baby boy in September \u2014 by posting 21 points and 12 boards.<\/p>\n

Potter wore neutral colored shoes for pregame warmups before switching to blue sneakers to start the game for a gender reveal.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to the Potters \u2014 it\u2019s a boy,\u201d Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. \u201cHe kept the drama going right up to the jump, with two pairs of sneakers out there \u2026 but it was pretty good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided (game night) to make a switch (to start Potter ahead of Jay Huff), because this is a big deal. It\u2019s really a momentous thing, having your first child. This is a little bit (of an) unusual way to announce it, but if we can help light up one of our guys and make it even more special, why not do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indiana only had nine players in uniform\u2013 its top five scorers all missing \u2014 adding to its degree of difficulty in Cleveland.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll in all, I\u2019m just real proud of the group,\u201d Carlisle said. \u201cTo compete the way we did for three full quarters and a good chunk of the fourth, to have a lead and carry the lead for a long time, with the group that was available was a great effort by them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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