Georges-Hunt earns playing time with Timberwolves
Welcome to the 2017-18 edition of the Timberpups Tracker. This year, we’re taking a different tact. With Minnesota having taken over a G League franchise in Iowa, and renaming it the Wolves, each Thursday we’ll either track the progress of the players who might be of help to the Timberwolves in the future or a current member of the Minnesota roster. We’ll also give updates on the other young players from the previous week.
This is the 7th edition of the 2017-18 Timberpups Tracker.
SPOTLIGHT ON…
Guard Marcus Georges-Hunt
Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t known for reaching deep into his bench for minutes.
In fact, three of his starters -- Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns -- rank in the NBA’s top 15 for minutes played per game.
But somehow, second-year guard Georges-Hunt has found a way to get on the court off the bench.
Georges-Hunt has appeared in 15 straight games, and he’s earned five or more minutes in eight of those. That includes 11 minutes in Wednesday’s 104-88 victory over Oklahoma City, in which the 23-year-old tallied two points and three rebounds to help the Timberwolves distance themselves from the Thunder in the Western Conference standings.
Georges-Hunt doesn’t fill up the scoring sheet with the Timberwolves -- although he’s definitely capable, as he poured in 34 points for Iowa in his lone G League game this season -- but he contributes in different ways.
His defensive effort and aggressiveness on the floor are two big reasons why the Georgia Tech product had his contract guaranteed for the rest of the season last weekend.
TRACKING TIMBERPUPS
-- Tyus Jones made the most of his chance in the Timberwolves’ starting five while Jeff Teague was out with injury (we documented it here and here). Teague returned Wednesday night, which usually means Thibodeau elects to play Jones sparingly. But that was not the case. Teague was on the floor for 25 minutes against Oklahoma City, compared to almost 19 minutes for Jones. The Apple Valley product may have finally won Thibs over.
-- Andrew Wiggins grabbed eight rebounds in Minnesota’s victory over New Orleans on Jan. 6, one off his season high. The Timberwolves are 13-4 this season when Wiggins tallies five or more boards.
-- Your weekly check-in on rookie Justin Patton: The first-round pick scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 19 minutes for the Iowa Wolves on Jan. 5.
