The Minnesota Timberwolves are near full strength on their injury report vs the Sacramento Kings
Friday night was a game the Minnesota Timberwolves will want to put in the past as soon as possible. Despite holding a 113-105 lead over the Phoenix Suns with less than one minute remaining, the Suns went on a 9-0 run fueled by turnovers and missed shots to walk away with the 114-113 upset win.
It was a crushing loss for the Timberwolves, who have yet to beat a quality opponent all season. With a major contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the horizon, they will face the Sacramento Kings on Monday night with an opportunity to tune things up before the marquee matchup.
Timberwolves Injury Report
Looking at the injury report for the Timberwolves on Monday, it's positive signs, with Terrence Shannon Jr. being listed as QUESTIONABLE with a bone bruise in his foot. Otherwise, Enrique Freeman is listed as AVAILABLE as he'll be wearing a face mask, and Rocco Zikarsky is OUT as he will be with the team's G League affiliate.
Shannon Jr. showed a lot of promise during the NBA 2K26 Summer League, averaging 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in three games. With Nickeil Alexander-Walker departing the team this offseason, Shannon Jr. was expected to step into a bigger role and bring some scoring burst off the bench. However, an injury and poor play have many wondering if he still has it in him.
Given the Timberwolves' need for bench depth, especially with Mike Conley significantly regressing, the team needs Shannon Jr. more than ever to step up and be a key piece for them.
Kings Injury Report
Outside of their two-way players, Domantas Sabonis remains OUT as he deals with a partial tear in his left meniscus. Sabonis was averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists through 11 games this season.
With the Kings thin at center, the Timberwolves should look to take advantage with their combination of Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid at the center position.
Game Preview
The Kings look far from a playoff team in a loaded Western Conference, but they'll be riding the high of their last game, where they took down the Denver Nuggets on the road. It's a team filled with veteran talent who are still trying to figure out how they work together.
With the Thunder on the horizon, the Timberwolves need to walk away with a win against the Kings if they want to enter that marquee matchup with the right mindset. Tip-off in Sacramento is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.