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Wolves' Mike Conley sitting out second leg of back-to-back in Portland

This might open up some non-garbage time minutes for rookie Rob Dillingham...
Will Ragatz|
Nov 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) brings the ball up court against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center.
Nov 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) brings the ball up court against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Mike Conley (rest) will not play in the second leg of the Timberwolves' back-to-back in Portland on Wednesday night, the team has announced.

It'll be the first absence of the season for Conley, who played in both ends of the Wolves' two previous back-to-backs. It'll also be the first absence of the season for any of Minnesota's top eight rotation players.

With Conley out, either Donte DiVincenzo or Nickeil Alexander-Walker will presumably get the start at point guard alongside Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert. Perhaps more notably, this could open up some potential rotation minutes for rookie guard Rob Dillingham. The 8th overall pick in this year's draft, Dillingham has played just 19 total minutes of garbage time across four games, scoring 11 points (on 5-of-7 shooting) with 7 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 turnovers.

We'll see if head coach Chris Finch gives Dillingham an opportunity to inject some life into a Wolves team that put up a dud in Tuesday's 122-108 loss to the lowly Trail Blazers. Conley's absence might also mean Josh Minott steps in as the eighth member of the rotation. The Wolves could roll with Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Alexander-Walker in the backcourt, but fans will undoubtedly be hoping to see Dillingham get some extended run for the first time.

The 37-year-old Conley is off to a slow start in his 18th NBA season. Through 11 games, he's averaging just 7.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting 31 percent from the floor. Last season, he averaged roughly 11 points and 6 assists per night while shooting a career-high 44 percent from three. Perhaps this night off will help him get back into more of a rhythm in the Wolves' next game against the Kings on Friday night.

It's been a rough few days and a shaky overall start for the Timberwolves, who are 6-5 heading into Wednesday night's game. A second consecutive loss to the Blazers would likely send fans into full-blown panic mode, so this is a big game.

More Wolves stories:

Missing KAT? Randle rebounding? DiVincenzo bricks? Turnovers? Wolves have problems

Anthony Edwards: Wolves can't get down on themselves after two bad losses

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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