The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast · Christopher Carlson

Timberwolves Talk: Ant and Jaden Injured Wolves Limping to 6th Seed? Defense! Bones/Ayo!

April 7, 2026·57 min·5 clips

Why are the Timberwolves limping into the playoffs with Ant and Jaden injured?

Chris Carlson opens the solo episode by noting he's recording before the national championship game. He expresses concern over the slow return of Anthony Edwards and the week-to-week status of Jaden McDaniels, questioning if the Timberwolves could have secured the 3rd seed if healthy. The host reviews the team's 2-4 record since his last show, praising the steady defense but noting offensive struggles without Edwards. He provides a detailed game-by-game breakdown, starting with a dramatic overtime loss to Houston where the Wolves blew a 13-point lead. He mentions referee Scott Foster's controversial involvement. The analysis covers a loss to Detroit where the team shot poorly and was outrebounded, a win over Dallas where Edwards came off the bench, and a loss to Philadelphia featuring a 20-3 run by the 76ers. Carlson dissects individual player performances, highlighting Rudy Gobert's recent struggles with finishing and hands, Naz Reid's banged-up shoulder affecting his shot, and an uptick in turnovers from Karl-Anthony Towns. Positives include the spark plug play of Bones Hyland, the steady contribution of Mike Conley, and Terrence Shannon getting more playing time. The host debates whether the team can replicate past playoff turnarounds, referencing sweeps of Phoenix and Oklahoma City, but notes health is the key difference this year. He predicts the Wolves will finish as the 6th seed, likely facing the Denver Nuggets, and outlines the remaining schedule. The episode transitions to Minnesota Gophers basketball, reporting that four key players with eligibility are returning, which is seen as a positive step for retention. He also gives a shoutout to the Gophers women's team for their Sweet 16 run. The show ends as the host notes the national championship game has started.

As heard by us

A health-and-third-spot review sharpened by Minnesota's offensive fade against Philadelphia.

Minnesota's playoff outlook is framed around two linked concerns: health and the race for the third spot. Chris Carlson opens with Ant's slow return and Jaden's week-to-week status, asking how different the chase might look with a sturdier roster.

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Why you'd press play

You get Ant's slow return and Jaden's week-to-week worry, then a scoreboard-level autopsy of Minnesota letting Philly run away with the third quarter.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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