The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to maintain their torrid start to the season when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
The Timberwolves have won 10 of their first 13 games to jump to the top of the Western Conference standings. Minnesota is coming off back-to-back victories over the New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks, and it has won nine of its past 10.
The next test comes against the powerful 76ers (10-4). Philadelphia will be playing on short rest after falling 122-119 in overtime against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
The matchup will feature some of the league's elite big men. Joel Embiid is coming off a 32-point, 13-rebound performance for the 76ers, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert have found a rhythm early this season that they never fully established last year.
Embiid is listed at 7 feet and 280 pounds. Gobert stands 7-1, 258; while Towns is listed at 7 feet, 248.
Gobert has grown on Timberwolves fans in his second season. He received a standing ovation after the most recent game, a 117-110 win over the visiting New York Knicks on Monday, when he scored 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch is glad that Gobert is getting more love.
"Our building has been great all year," Finch said. "I'm so really pleased our fans are enjoying Rudy's play this year. He is playing at an all-defensive-team level and doing all the dirty work as well. I think it's really resonating with the crowd. I'm really proud of that and pleased for him."
Gobert could face his toughest test of the season in trying to defend Embiid, who is averaging 31.9 points and 11.3 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey ranks second on the 76ers at 27 points per game, providing a second top scoring threat. He dropped 30 against Cleveland.
"I'm just trying to read the game, let the game come to me," said Maxey, who also had six assists on Tuesday. "I know what my role is. ... Once you know what your role is, what the expectations of the team and organization are, it makes it easier for me.
"So now I know I need to go out there and put guys in the right place or score the ball when I need to do that. So it's been great."
One of the only not-great parts of the Timberwolves' start is a recent injury to top defender Jaden McDaniels. He sprained his ankle against the Knicks on Monday and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks.
McDaniels' absence could mean a heavier workload for Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Against New York, Alexander-Walker replaced McDaniels and took on the assignment of trying to slow down Jalen Brunson.
"We're comfortable with Nickeil as a starter," Finch said. "He's a great point-of-attack defender."
Philadelphia forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (fractured rib) missed his sixth consecutive game on Tuesday, though he resumed practice on Monday. He might be able to get back in game action next week, according to coach Nick Nurse.
—Field Level Media