Terrence Shannon Jr. just gave the Timberwolves exactly what they’ve been missing

Although the Minnesota Timberwolves fell short 113-105 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, there were several encouraging aspects of this game. Terrence Shannon Jr.’s performance are at the top of the list. In 17 minutes, Shannon scored 18 points (while hitting all seven of his field goal attempts), two rebounds and an assist.

Shannon came into Wednesday’s game averaging just 3.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and an assist on 31/33.3/71.4 shooting splits. The second-year winger missed nine games due to a foot injury, but when TSJ was on the field he didn’t make much of an impact, including in his first game back from injury on Monday. That all changed on Wednesday, however, as Shannon put together the best match of his young career thus far.

Coming into the NBA, Shannon’s selling point was that he was a fearless shot creator and a finisher at the rim. He showed flashes of this in his rookie season, so much so that the Wolves felt comfortable enough not to replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, for much of the season, Shannon lacked decisiveness when attacking the rim and was unable to make a shot from beyond the arc.

Wednesday, however, was a different story. Shannon looked confident and made decisive decisions. He attacked the rim with elite power, hitting three shots from beyond the arc. Additionally, TSJ played solid defense and made smart decisions. While the Wolves ultimately lost the game, Shannon provided them with the bench spark they needed and helped them stay competitive throughout the game.

A consistent TSJ would benefit the Wolves immensely

This season, Minnesota ranks 28th in bench scoring. Naz Reid is the only player on the Wolves bench who has been able to provide consistent scoring production. However, if Shannon can make it happen, it could change everything for the 10-8 Wolves. Honestly, if the Wolves can’t get regular production out of Shannon, Rob Dillingham or Jaylen Clark, their season will be in a dark place.

Nevertheless, Shannon’s performance could be a turning point for both him and the team. Will Shannon average 18 points per game? Absolutely not, but he could very well average in the double digits or just under this range. Getting this goalscoring boost off the bench would be a huge boost for a Wolves team that has been fairly top-heavy this season.

At his best, Shannon can provide both high-level rim finishing and exterior shooting.

Shannon’s 18 points led the way, while the Wolves had 38 bench points. Yes, it’s only one game, but playing so well against an elite Thunder defense makes Shannon’s performance even more important. Notably, Shannon also scored 35 points in the last three games of the Western Conference finals against OKC. Simply put, if Shannon can do this against the Thunder, he can do it against anyone.

Ultimately, Shannon will have to prove he can provide consistent value for the remainder of the season. Regardless, there’s no denying that Shannon’s performance was an encouraging sign that could help turn the tide for the Wolves.