In some good news for the Timberwolves, and they could use some after the Knicks blew them out of Target Center on Monday night, center Rudy Gobert cleared COVID-19 protocols, practiced Tuesday and is available to play Wednesday against Phoenix.
That could help their defense, which is No. 9 in terms of defensive efficiency, but looked disinterested in making the Knicks work Monday.
That prompted guard Anthony Edwards to say the team was "soft" after the game, and they were likely developing that reputation around the league.
For Gobert, who spent the last two games watching from home, the Wolves need to concentrate on doing the "little things" right — like communication and playing with urgency on a consistent basis.