Reid reignited Minnesota's energy post-break with a dominant performance.
The Minnesota Timberwolves came out of the All-Star break looking refreshed, and no one made that more obvious than Naz Reid.
In their first game back, Reid put together one of the most complete performances of his season, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench in a 122-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks on February 20th.
Minnesota improved to 35-22 on the season with the victory, maintaining their spot as one of the Western Conference's most dangerous teams.
Reid was more than just a stat-sheet contributor in the win.
He delivered what may have been the play of the night when he caught a pass near half-court, took off on a one-man fast break, executed a behind-the-back move, and threw down a thunderous poster dunk over Mavericks center Daniel Gafford.
The Target Center crowd erupted, and the moment summed up everything Reid is capable of when he's locked in and feeling himself.
After the game, Reid was asked what the break did for him, and his answer was simple and honest. "It's bringing back the old days, got my legs back," Reid said. "I was able to chill over the break, you know, just kind of gather myself."
A Fresh Start
That kind of reset matters for a player who logs significant minutes in a crowded rotation alongside Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.
Reid is averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season, numbers that show just how consistent he has been as Minnesota's sixth man.
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is currently the betting favorite to win the award again, and nights like Friday against Dallas are a big reason why.
Head coach Chris Finch has credited Reid's ability to make quick decisions with the ball as a key part of why the second unit functions so well.
Reid can create his own shot, knock down the three-ball, and finish above the rim at a rate most big men can only dream of.
The poster dunk on Gafford was just the latest reminder that Reid brings a highlight-reel element to the floor that changes the feel of a game in an instant.
On our recent Roundtable report on Reid's turnaround, Finch has been especially encouraged by the way Reid has started creating his own shot and making quick reads within the offense.
Reid had a slow start to the year through his first 11 games, but he has found his footing since and now looks like the player Minnesota signed to a five-year, $125 million extension this past offseason.
The Key Piece Minnesota Needs
The Timberwolves have made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, and the expectation in Minnesota is nothing short of a championship.
Anthony Edwards is one of the best scorers in the NBA this season, and Gobert remains a dominant two-way force in the middle.
But if the Wolves are going to make a deep playoff run, Reid is the glue piece that can push them over the top.
The Timberwolves' team page on Basketball Reference shows a squad sitting at 35-22 heading into the second half of the season, well within the playoff picture and capable of climbing higher with a strong finish.
Naz Reid being at full strength is not a small thing for that equation.
His ability to play alongside Gobert in the frontcourt gives Minnesota a lineup combination few teams can match, and his scoring punch off the bench takes the pressure off Edwards to carry every possession.
Reid has shown all season that he can do the little things even when his shot isn't falling, a mindset that makes him valuable in almost any situation the Wolves throw him into.
The win over Dallas also showed just how well the second unit can hum when Reid and newly acquired Ayo Dosunmu share the floor together.
Reid has been open about his appreciation for Dosunmu's maturity and pace, calling him one of the smarter players he has been around.
With Dosunmu now in the fold, Minnesota has arguably the best bench duo in the Western Conference.
Refreshed, healthy, and throwing down posters on unsuspecting big men, Naz Reid looks every bit like the player who won Sixth Man of the Year. The old days, as he put it, are back.