Jaden McDaniels Injury News & Updates

McDaniels ended with a team-high 27 points (10-13 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT), one rebound, two assists, one block and two steals across 37 minutes during Saturday's 109-106 win over the Clippers.

It was McDaniels' best scoring effort since Oct. 29, when he dropped a season-high 30 on the Lakers. The 25-year-old forward also made his usual impact on the defensive end, recording at least one steal and one block for the sixth time in his last 10 games, a stretch in which he's averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.5 threes and 0.8 blocks while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent (15-for-33).

McDaniels amassed 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-3 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 33 minutes during Tuesday's 149-142 overtime win over the Pelicans.

McDaniels chipped in a full stat line amid a hard-fought road victory in New Orleans. The forearm has been excellent in nine-category leagues for his efficiency and low rate of turnovers, having averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in 20 games this season while shooting 52.8 percent from the field.

McDaniels recorded 13 points (5-12 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds, two assists, four steals and one turnover in 40 minutes during Friday's 114-113 loss to the Suns.

McDaniels was excellent in his return from a one-game absence, as he put the clamps on Devin Booker and helped hold him to 4-for-18 shooting for a season-low 16 points. This was McDaniels' third straight game with multiple steals and his sixth multi-steal performance of the season. The 25-year-old forward is off to the best start of his career, posting top-40 numbers behind averages of 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 triples, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

McDaniels (wrist) will be available for Friday's game in Phoenix.

McDaniels should see his usual minutes in his return from a one-game absence, so make sure you've got him active. With McDaniels back in action, Mike Conley will likely head back to the second unit and Jaylen Clark's minutes could dip a bit.

McDaniels (wrist) is questionable for Friday's game against the Suns.

McDaniels is in danger of missing his second straight game due to a left wrist sprain. The team could have a better idea of his availability for Friday following morning shootaround.

McDaniels (wrist) won't play Wednesday against the Wizards.

McDaniels will sit out for the first time this season. The Timberwolves are calling his injury a sprain, but the fact that he was listed as questionable suggests that he will be day-to-day moving forward. With McDaniels out, Naz Reid could take on a larger role and Jaylen Clark is a candidate to see more minutes.

McDaniels (wrist) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Wizards.

McDaniels is at risk of missing his first game of the campaign. Naz Reid appears to be the most likely option to take on a larger role if McDaniels cannot give it a go Wednesday, while Jaylen Clark would be in line for a bump in minutes.

McDaniels supplied 15 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block over 23 minutes during Monday's 120-96 win over the Mavericks.

McDaniels attempted his fewest shots of the season Monday but remained efficient and contributed in multiple areas during the Timberwolves' blowout win. The forward started the year strong and has continued his breakout stretch, averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks over the past eight games. A major driver of the 25-year-old's offensive surge has been his outside shooting, as he's knocked down 52.1 percent of his three-point attempts through 14 games this season.

McDaniels amassed 21 points (8-10 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 26 minutes during Sunday's 144-117 win over Sacramento.

The 25-year-old forward continues to take his offensive game to another level. McDaniels has scored more than 20 points in five of the last seven games, averaging 21.0 points, 4.7 boards, 2.6 assists, 2.3 threes, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals over that stretch while shooting an eye-popping 63.3 percent from the floor and 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from beyond the arc. While that hot streak began while Anthony Edwards was sidelined with a hamstring strain, McDaniels hasn't slowed down much since Edwards got back onto the court.

McDaniels finished Friday's 137-97 win over the Jazz with 22 points (9-14 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, two blocks and three steals in 27 minutes.

McDaniels has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Timberwolves this season, and the forward has reached the 20-point plateau in four of his last six appearances. McDaniels has been a bit inconsistent on a game-to-game basis, but he's showing enough potential to believe he can still reach another level as a scoring weapon. He seems to have a solid floor across the board, though, with averages of 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game this season.

McDaniels notched 22 points (9-11 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), three rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 29 minutes during Monday's 125-109 victory over Brooklyn.

McDaniels was feeling it on the offensive end of the court, missing only a few shots all night while also making an impact defensively. He got off to a slow start to the new campaign, averaging 13.0 points over his first three appearances, but he continues to pick up opportunities in the absence of Anthony Edwards (hamstring). McDaniels has put up 22.8 points in his last four games.

McDaniels supplied 30 points (11-19 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds, one assist and one steal in 41 minutes during Wednesday's 116-115 loss to the Lakers.

McDaniels should be the primary beneficiary while Anthony Edwards (hamstring) recovers, and he confirmed that premise with a huge night in the narrow loss. McDaniels is a valuable piece of Minnesota's scheme independent of Edwards' injury, but fantasy managers should take advantage of the production spike while it lasts.

McDaniels finished with a team-high 25 points (10-16 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, one assist and four blocks in 35 minutes during Monday's 127-114 loss to Denver.

It's the first time in four games this season that McDaniels has supplied 20-plus points, but he's remained a force on the defensive end with 10 total blocks. The 25-year-old forward emerged as an all-around fantasy asset in 2024-25, and he's averaging 16.0 points, 3.8 boards, 2.5 blocks, 1.3 threes and 1.0 assists in the early part of the current campaign.

McDaniels ended with 18 points (6-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 118-114 win over Portland.

McDaniels' best play was a blocked shot off of Portland's Yang Hansen, who has a four-inch height advantage on the wingman. McDaniels had career highs in every major category last season, and the Washington product should keeps things rolling as a valuable contributor on both sides of the ball.

McDaniels (rest) isn't listed on the Timberwolves' injury report for Wednesday's matchup against Portland.

McDaniels will suit up in Wednesday's regular-season opener after sitting out Friday's preseason loss to Philadelphia. The 25-year-old forward is coming off a productive 2024-25 campaign, during which he averaged 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.9 minutes per game across 82 regular-season appearances.

McDaniels (rest) is out for Friday's preseason finale against the 76ers.

It's a maintenance day for McDaniels in the aftermath of Thursday's exhibition contest against the Bulls. The defensive-minded forward will now prepare for Wednesday's season opener against Portland.

McDaniels (ankle) will play in Thursday's preseason game against the Bulls, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels took a seat for Monday's preseason clash due to a minor ankle injury, but he's feeling strong enough to suit up Thursday. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the team keep a close eye on his minutes given the contest is an exhibition.

McDaniels (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's exhibition against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions.

McDaniels will miss Monday's matchup after exiting Thursday's game against the Knicks with a left ankle injury. The forward participated in limited practice Saturday, an encouraging sign that the issue isn't serious, though it's still something to monitor. His next chance to play in the preseason comes Thursday against the Bulls.

McDaniels (ankle) was limited at Saturday's practice, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

McDaniels didn't return to Thursday's 100-95 preseason loss to the Knicks with a left ankle issue. Coach Chris Finch said Saturday that the forward is doing well, and he does have a few more fulls days to recover ahead of Thursday's exhibition against the Bulls.

McDaniels (ankle) didn't return to Thursday's 100-95 preseason loss to the Knicks. He finished with seven points (2-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal across 23 minutes.

McDaniels suffered a left ankle injury during the third quarter, and the team didn't feel the need to send him back out there considering the game was an exhibition. Minnesota has yet to provide another update on the severity of McDaniels' injury.

McDaniels went to the locker room during the third quarter of Thursday's preseason game against the Knicks due to an apparent left ankle injury, Charlie Walton of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

McDaniels was slow to get off the court after taking a tumble, and he was spotted making his way to the locker room shortly after. He can be considered questionable to return until the team has more information on the severity of his injury.

McDaniels (rest) has been cleared to play in Thursday's preseason game against the Knicks, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels will return to the floor after missing Tuesday's preseason game against the Pacers for rest purposes. Following Thursday's matchup, the Timberwolves have only two preseason games remaining before their regular-season opener on Oct. 22 against the Trail Blazers.

McDaniels (rest) has been ruled out for Tuesday's preseason game against the Pacers, Dane Moore of 'The Dane Moore NBA Podcast' reports.

McDaniels is the only starter for his squad who won't play against Indiana on Tuesday. There doesn't appear to be an injury he's dealing with, as his absence is for rest purposes. The next opportunity for McDaniels to suit up and play will be Thursday against the Knicks.

McDaniels totaled six points (3-7 FG), one rebound, one assist and one block over 22 minutes during Monday's 119-103 loss to Indiana.

McDaniels has struggled in two of the last three games for Minnesota, finishing in single digits after scoring in double digits in 22 straight games. However, the 24-year-old forward is averaging career-high numbers in points (12.6), rebounds (5.9), assists (2.1) and steals (1.4) this season for the Timberwolves.

McDaniels recorded 20 points (8-13 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 27 minutes during Sunday's 128-102 victory over Utah.

Although he's been a consistent presence on the defensive side of the floor all season, fantasy managers have to be particularly pleased with McDaniels' growth as a scorer lately. He's scored in double figures in 21 consecutive outings. Over 13 games following the All-Star break, McDaniels has averaged 18.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers in 35.3 minutes.

McDaniels produced 11 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals in 32 minutes during Friday's 118-111 win over Orlando.

McDaniels continues his breakout season, turning in yet another strong two-way performance. He has been arguably the most consistent player for Minnesota over the past two months. In 29 games during that span, he is averaging 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers.

McDaniels registered 17 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists, four blocks and two steals in 37 minutes during Tuesday's 126-112 victory over the 76ers.

It was another dazzling defensive effort from McDaniels, who supplemented his usual pilfers with a season high in rejections. The fifth-year forward has recorded multiple steals in five straight games and seven of the last 10, averaging 17.1 points, 7.4 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 threes and 0.9 blocks over that span.

McDaniels amassed 20 points (9-16 FG, 2-6 3Pt), 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals across 35 minutes during Friday's 117-116 loss to Utah.

McDaniels finished second on the Timberwolves in both points and rebounds Friday behind Naz Reid (27 points and 11 rebounds). McDaniels was averaging 10.5 points per game up until Jan. 31, but the fifth-year forward has taken on an increased scoring role as of late. He has recorded three double-doubles over his last four games, and he has averaged 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals over 37.1 minutes per game over his last 10 outings.

McDaniels recorded 15 points (6-18 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, two steals and one assist across 37 minutes during Thursday's 111-102 loss to the Lakers.

McDaniels finished as the club's third-leading scorer Thursday, though he was fairly inefficient in the loss. Additionally, the fifth-year pro recorded multiple steals for the 25th time this season. The 24-year-old has scored at least 15 points in each of his last five outings, during which he has averaged 20.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 39.6 minutes per game.

McDaniels racked up a team-high 27 points (9-16 FG, 9-9 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals across 42 minutes during Monday's 131-128 overtime win over Oklahoma City.

The Timberwolves were down by 22 points heading into the fourth quarter, but McDaniels helped fuel a massive comeback that he capped by scoring five straight points inside the final minute of regulation to force OT. The double-double was his seventh of the season, but four of them have come in February as he's taken full advantage of the absence of Julius Randle (groin), including one in each end of a back-to-back set against the Thunder. Through 11 games on the month, McDaniels is averaging 18.6 points, 8.3 boards, 2.9 assists, 1.3 threes, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks.

McDaniels contributed 17 points (5-15 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and one block in 40 minutes during Sunday's 130-123 loss to the Thunder.

Minnesota is very shorthanded these days with Donte DiVincenzo (toe), Julius Randle (groin) and Rudy Gobert (neck) all battling injuries. McDaniels has been logging a ton of minutes as a result, and his usage is up as well. Over his last five games, McDaniels has produced averages of 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers.

McDaniels racked up 21 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 42 minutes during Friday's 121-115 loss to the Rockets.

The fifth-year forward was productive once again as Julius Randle (groin) remained sidelined coming out of the All-Star break. McDaniels has scored more than 20 points in five of nine February contests, averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.4 threes, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks on the month, but his usage figures to decline as soon as Randle is cleared to get back in the lineup.

McDaniels accumulated 21 points (9-18 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 2-3 FT), six rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes during Thursday's 116-101 victory over the Thunder.

The fifth-year forward has found an extra level of consistency in February. McDaniels has scored in double digits in eight straight games to begin the month, averaging 17.5 points, 7.8 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.5 threes, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. His surge in productivity has come while Julius Randle (groin) has been sidelined, and McDaniels will likely see his usage and shot volume decline significantly once Randle is cleared to return.

McDaniels notched 30 points (12-17 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-7 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal in 37 minutes during Saturday's 114-98 win over Portland.

The 24-year-old forward posted a game- and season-high mark in points, leading the Timberwolves to a win without Anthony Edwards (hip) and Julius Randle (thigh). McDaniels also posted his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with the second-highest mark in boards behind Rudy Gobert (11 rebounds). McDaniels has been much improved on the offensive end of late, averaging 19.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks across 36.2 minutes per contest in his last five outings.

McDaniels finished Monday's 116-114 loss to the Kings with 22 points (8-17 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal across 36 minutes.

After scoring 23 points Saturday against the Wizards, McDaniels topped 20 again, marking the first time all season he's delivered 20-plus points in back-to-back contests. Since Donte DiVincenzo (toe) was shut down in mid-January, McDaniels has seen his workload and usage increase and he's averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 boards, 2.1 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 threes and 1.2 blocks in 36.3 minutes over the last 10 games.

McDaniels closed with 23 points (8-16 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 12 rebounds, four assists, one block and four steals across 40 minutes during Saturday's 105-103 loss to the Wizards.

With Anthony Edwards (illness) and Julius Randle (groin) both in street clothes and Naz Reid (finger) exiting Saturday's game in the third quarter, McDaniels wound up leading Minnesota in scoring en route to his fourth double-double of the season. The fifth-year forward has scored in double digits in nine of the last 10 contests while playing a massive 36.3 minutes a game, averaging 13.9 points, 7.5 boards, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 threes and 1.1 blocks over that stretch and shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent from long distance. Randle seems likely to miss a week or more, so McDaniels figures to continue seeing elevated usage in the short term.

McDaniels was ejected at the end of Wednesday's 121-113 win over the Suns for putting his finger in Devin Booker's face, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels finishes the contest with 14 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists and two steals across 37 minutes. McDaniels was involved in a larger scuffle but was the lone player to be ejected. Devin Booker was issued a technical. McDaniels has now scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, but he's scored more than 14 points just once during that stretch.

McDaniels registered 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and four steals in 33 minutes during Monday's 100-92 win over the Hawks.

McDaniels contributed on both ends of the floor, continuing what might be considered the best run of his career. He has scored double-digits in seven straight games, averaging 14.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers in 36.4 minutes per game. As the Timberwolves continue to push their way back up the standings, the hope is that McDaniels can maintain his current production.

McDaniels logged 27 points (10-18 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 6-8 FT), eight boards, four steals and three blocks in 40 minutes during Wednesday's 115-114 win over the Mavericks.

The fifth-year forward was the X-Factor in his team's narrow victory, finishing the game as the team leader in points, rebounds, steals and blocks (tied with Rudy Gobert). His 27 points also marked a new career high. His efficiency from the field and defensive contributions were just the cherries on top of this career-best fantasy performance. He'll look to stay hot Saturday against the Nuggets.

McDaniels produced 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-6 3Pt), 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two steals over 42 minutes during Monday's 108-106 loss to the Grizzlies.

McDaniels recorded his third double-double of the season Monday, but his impact went beyond what he accomplished as a scorer and rebounder since he also delivered a combined four steals-plus-blocks. McDaniels seems to be trending in the right direction as a scoring weapon as well, and he's tallied double-digit points in five of his last six appearances.

McDaniels racked up eight points (3-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds and one block across 30 minutes during Monday's 120-106 victory over the Wizards.

Although McDaniels didn't make a major impact in the scoring department Monday, he came down with eight boards and a swat to give the Wolves a boost on the defensive end of the floor. The 24-year-old forward remains a locked-in starter in Minnesota, and he's a solid source of defensive stats while averaging 11.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.7 threes across his last seven outings.

McDaniels ended with 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals over 33 minutes during Monday's 108-106 win over the Clippers.

For the fourth time this season, McDaniels knocked down at least three triples. While this was a decent showing, McDaniels has been a little underwhelming in recent outings -- over his last 10 games, he's barely been a top-150 player in nine-category formats with averages of 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 three-pointers.

McDaniels had a solid outing in the win against the Spurs, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

McDaniels has struggled as of late but made an impact against San Antonio by scoring in double figures for the first time in four games while also crashing the glass and battling Victor Wembanyama in the paint.

McDaniels closed with 10 points (4-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal in 35 minutes during Saturday's 113-103 loss to Golden State.

McDaniels was one of six Timberwolves players in double scoring figures, and he's now managed to hit double-digit points in six of his last nine games despite Saturday's inefficient shooting display. Over this stretch, McDaniels is averaging 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers per game. The 24-year-old forward's impact on the floor is more noticeable in the intangible areas outside the box score as Minnesota's top perimeter defender, so while he doesn't play a big role offensively, McDaniels' disruptive defense can translate to plenty of defensive counters for fantasy managers.

McDaniels chipped in 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist and four steals in 28 minutes during Sunday's 106-92 victory over the Spurs.

McDaniels recorded a season-high 11 rebounds as he posted his first double-double of the campaign. He's having a strong December so far, posting averages of 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers in his last six appearances.

McDaniels had 18 points (7-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), nine rebounds, two blocks and five steals in 36 minutes during Friday's 97-87 win over the Lakers.

This was McDaniels' fourth time in which he surpassed the 15-point plateau this season, but it will go down as one of his most efficient performances on both ends of the court. Aside from missing just four shots from the field, he also ended one board away from a double-double while also notching a season-high mark in steals. McDaniels has scored in double digits in four of his last six appearances, averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game in that span.

McDaniels posted nine points (4-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and two steals across 36 minutes during Sunday's 114-106 loss to the Warriors.

Despite seeing 30.0 minutes per contest, McDaniels finds himself on pace to finish just outside the top-150 valuation in nine-category formats. He's averaging 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 three-pointers, but he's hitting just 44.0 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the free throw line.

McDaniels totaled nine points (4-16 FG, 1-8 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 40 minutes during Tuesday's 117-111 overtime loss to the Rockets.

McDaniels shot just 25 percent from the floor, adding very little in terms of peripheral numbers. Outside of a few scoring outbursts, it's been a quiet season for McDaniels, averaging 10.8 points per game to go with 1.2 three-pointers and 2.1 combined steals and blocks. Despite the sub-par production, McDaniels is locked in as a starter and should continue to find himself in a position to contribute on both ends of the floor.

McDaniels registered 22 points (8-15 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and two steals over 42 minutes during Thursday's 110-105 loss to the Raptors.

McDaniels stepped up for Minnesota in Thursday's contest, contributing offensively and on the glass in a well-rounded performance. McDaniels posted a new season high in scoring, surpassing the 20-point mark for the first time this year. Over his last three games, McDaniels has turned his game up a notch while averaging 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals per contest.

McDaniels had 11 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-4 FT), three rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block in 26 minutes during Sunday's 120-117 victory over the Suns.

McDaniels posted his sixth consecutive game with a steal while leading the club with a team-high of three. Across the Timberwolves' last six games, the 24-year-old has racked up 15 steals, compared to only four steals in the club's first eight outings. Through 14 regular-season appearances, McDaniels has averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks across 29.7 minutes per game. While his scoring output is limited, the forward has shot 46.7 percent from the field and continues to stuff the stat sheet.

McDaniels contributed 19 points (6-7 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one block over 33 minutes during Thursday's 135-119 win over the Bulls.

McDaniels had scored in single digits in five of his first seven appearances, but he caught fire Thursday and finished with a season-high 19 points. While it's been a slow start offensively for McDaniels, the defensive-minded forward is averaging 1.1 blocks per game through eight appearances, which would be a career high.

McDaniels provided nine points (3-10 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-4 FT), three rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes during Monday's 114-93 victory over the Hornets.

McDaniels put together another mediocre performance, continuing his slow start to the season. Despite starting in all seven games, McDaniels is averaging just 8.6 points, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 three-pointers in 27.2 minutes per game. His pre-minute production is less than ideal, something that has plagued him throughout his career.

McDaniels finished with nine points (4-5 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 33 minutes during Saturday's 112-101 win over Toronto.

McDaniels' 4-for-5 shooting performance from the field marks his most efficient night of the season. The 24-year-old was able to do a little bit of everything in the win, and he played 30-plus minutes for the first time this season. McDaniels is the clear starter at small forward in front of Joe Ingles, though his fantasy value is reliant on his defense and efficiency.

McDaniels (rest) is available for Tuesday's regular-season opener against the Lakers.

McDaniels was one of the many rotation players who got the night off Thursday in Minnesota's final preseason game, but he'll be a full go for Opening Night. The Washington product started 71 of his 72 regular-season appearances a year ago, averaging 10.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals in 29.2 minutes per game.

McDaniels won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Nuggets due to rest purposes.

McDaniels will unsurprisingly get the night off after logging 23 minutes in Wednesday's exhibition against the Bulls. He'll set his sights on gearing up for the start of the regular season Tuesday against the Lakers.

McDaniels finished with 17 points (6-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT), six rebounds, two assists and a block across 24 minutes in Friday's 121-111 preseason win over the 76ers.

McDaniels played a team-high 24 minutes in this preseason contest, the same as Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, and he was one of three starters who surpassed the 15-point plateau, with Edwards and Naz Reid being the others. McDaniels is set to open the season as the Timberwolves starting small forward after a 2023-24 playoff run in which he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game across 16 postseason contests.

McDaniels contributed 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt), one rebound and one steal over 32 minutes during Sunday's 116-107 loss to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.

McDaniels hasn't been getting enough offensive touches compared to how good he's been in the series, as the Timberwolves continue to rely on the struggling duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. At the same time, McDaniels has scored 15 or more points in two of three games in the series. He's shooting 55.2 percent from the field in the three losses against Dallas, and it wouldn't be shocking if he gets more touches on offense in Game 4 on Tuesday.

McDaniels finished Wednesday's 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with 24 points (9-15 FG, 6-9 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 39 minutes.

McDaniels carried the Timberwolves in scoring and delivered another impressive outing, as he seems to have carried the momentum of the series against the Nuggets into this matchup. McDaniels has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games -- a personal-best mark -- while shooting 68.6 percent from the field, so it wouldn't be shocking if he has a more prominent role as a scoring weapon in Game 2 on Friday.

McDaniels racked up 23 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals across 40 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 victory over the Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

McDaniels scored at least 20 points for the second straight game, helping the Timberwolves to an impressive victory in Game 7 over the Nuggets. Although his offensive output can be inconsistent, he has been a little more reliable during the postseason. Coming up against the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, McDaniels is going to have to maintain his offensive mindset to contend with the likes of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

McDaniels notched 21 points (8-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal over 30 minutes during Thursday's 115-70 victory over Denver in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

McDaniels is not known for his scoring ability and often gets recognition for his defensive work. Still, he stood out when it mattered the most in this series and finished as Minnesota's second-highest scorer. McDaniels is not expected to hover around the 20-point mark regularly going forward, but this was an excellent showing in a game where his team needed him to step up. For what is worth, this was McDaniels' second-best scoring output in the current playoff run, as he scored 25 points in the Game 2 win over the Suns in the first round.

McDaniels ended Tuesday's 105-93 win over the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals with 25 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and one steal across 41 minutes.

McDaniels shone in the victory, leading all scorers with 25 points. Known for his defensive abilities, it was on the offensive end that he did his damage. He was part of a balanced effort by the Timberwolves, easily accounting for the Suns to establish a 2-0 series lead.

McDaniels provided 26 points (9-13 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 4-7 FT), six rebounds, two blocks and one steal in 38 minutes during Tuesday's 115-112 loss to the Nuggets.

The Timberwolves need nights like this from McDaniels if they hope to keep pace in the Western Conference. The Washington product is the best chance for the team to make up for Karl-Anthony Towns' (knee) absence, but he's struggled to stay consistent. The issue is exacerbated by Rudy Gobert's (ribs) absence, but McDaniels' effort shows that he is capable of shouldering a heavy load if shots are falling his way.

McDaniels ended Monday's 114-104 victory over Utah with nine points (4-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt), eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 33 minutes.

Rudy Gobert (ribs) was sidelined and Naz Reid left this game early with a head injury, so McDaniels saw expanded minutes. His struggles continued, however, as he hasn't been able to generate much offensively in March. In his last nine appearances, McDaniels shot 40.2 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from beyond the arc.

McDaniels ended with 10 points (5-17 FG, 0-5 3Pt), six rebounds, one assist and two steals in 32 minutes during Sunday's 120-109 loss to the Lakers.

McDaniels had a golden chance of starting with Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Rudy Gobert (hamstring) sidelined, but he didn't take advantage of the opportunity and needed 17 shots to score 10 points. The Timberwolves have been extremely depleted due to injuries of late, so McDaniels could be in line for another starting appearance against the Clippers on Tuesday, but even if that's the case, he doesn't offer a lot of fantasy upside.

McDaniels closed Friday's 124-120 overtime loss to Sacramento with 26 points (9-11 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds and one assist over 45 minutes.

The fourth-year forward wound up leading Minnesota in scoring on the night, in part due to Anthony Edwards (personal) leaving the game at halftime. McDaniels set new season highs in points and made three-pointers, and Friday's performance was the first time since Jan. 17 he'd topped 20 points. Despite a fairly consistent role in the rotation, the 23-year-old's production has been anything but -- in 12 games since the beginning of February he's scored in single digits six times, including a goose egg against the Trail Blazers on Feb. 13.

McDaniels closed with 17 points (6-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds, one assist and two steals across 28 minutes during Thursday's 128-91 win over Portland.

McDaniels' value as a fantasy target is.a variance-filled proposition, as his numbers fluctuate nightly. He scored nine points in the first quarter, and Minnesota's 44-14 lead marked the most lopsided quarter of the season. The Timberwolves are running hot with four straight wins, and despite some rocky numbers, McDaniels has value as a consistent starter with the first unit.

McDaniels is available for Tuesday's game versus the Timberwolves.

McDaniels has been upgraded from questionable to available Tuesday despite dealing with a left index finger sprain. McDaniels is averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.0 minutes across his last five appearances.

McDaniels is questionable for Tuesday's game against Portland due to a left finger sprain.

McDaniels' finger injury is the same issue he has dealt with throughout the past week, but he has yet to miss a game. He posted 11 points (5-8 FG) across 25 minutes of action in Minnesota's convincing win over the Clippers on Monday. Tuesday's contest representing the end of a back-to-back set makes his status worth monitoring.

McDaniels (finger) will play Monday versus the Clippers, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels exited Thursday's game after spraining his left index finger, but the injury will not cost him any games. McDaniels is a critical addition to the Timberwolves' lineup as Minnesota attempts to slow down Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

McDaniels (finger) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Clippers.

McDaniels left Thursday's game against the Bucks early due to a left index finger sprain that now has his status for Monday's game in question. If he is unable to go, Kyle Anderson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are likely candidates to get extra minutes.

McDaniels suffered a left index finger sprain during Thursday's 129-105 win over the Bucks and wasn't able to return. He finished with eight points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3Pt), three rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes.

The severity of the injury isn't known, but the good news for Minnesota is that they are off until Monday's game against the Clippers. If McDaniels is unable to play in that one, Minnesota could turn to Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid to soak up some additional minutes.

McDaniels finished Sunday's 111-90 victory over the Rockets with five points (2-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and one block across 29 minutes.

McDaniels' streak of scoring in double figures ended at three, as he couldn't generate much offensively Sunday. He hasn't lived up to the offseason hype in fantasy basketball, as he's sitting outside the top-150 in nine-category formats due to muted production across the board. In 40 appearances, the forward holds averages of 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks.

McDaniels contributed 14 points (6-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 31 minutes during Monday's 107-101 win over Oklahoma City.

McDaniels is averaging 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals on 50.4 percent shooting across his last 15 games. He fell in line with those averages Monday, while also playing critical defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams (ankle) -- who grade as two of the most efficient scorers in the league this season.

McDaniels supplied 23 points (8-11 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one steal in 30 minutes during Wednesday's 124-117 victory over Detroit.

McDaniels connected on a trio of threes while finishing as one of three Timberwolves with 20 or more points and ending with a season high scoring mark in a winning effort. McDaniels has surpassed the 20-point mark in four games this year, connecting on three or more threes in three of those four outings.

McDaniels closed Wednesday's 117-106 loss to the Pelicans with 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt), two assists, one block and two steals over 33 minutes.

McDaniels' final stat line was not impressive, but he was one of the few players who managed to score in double digits in a game where the Timberwolves struggled badly on the offensive end. He should remain relevant in fantasy due to his starting role in one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but he's also very inconsistent on a game-to-game basis, mainly due to the nature of his secondary role in an offense led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.

McDaniels contributed 20 points (8-16 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one block and four steals over 41 minutes during Saturday's 110-98 victory over the Kings.

McDaniels logged 41 minutes during Saturday's win, marking his second-highest usage of the season. The slight increase was likely due to Karl-Anthony Towns' (knee) absence, but McDaniels has held steady over the past week with a three-game string of 20-plus point totals. McDaniels' secondary numbers are nothing to write home about, and his fantasy impact is contingent on a high shot volume.

McDaniels closed with 21 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-5 FT), three rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes during Wednesday's 127-113 loss to the 76ers.

McDaniels was one of three Timberwolves players with 20 or more points while posting a season-high in scoring in a losing effort. McDaniels, who recorded a career-best 19 points in the the first half alone, has surpassed the 20-point mark in two games this year, his first since recording a previous season high of 20 points Nov. 6 against Boston.

McDaniels (sacral issue) will play Monday against Miami, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels is active Monday after suffering a lower spine/tailbone bruise in Saturday's win over the Pacers. Playing on normal rest bodes well for the 23-year-old is, so he should be in line for his typical workload Monday.

McDaniels is questionable for Monday's game against the Heat due to a sacral contusion, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

McDaniels left Saturday's game against the Pacers after just 18 minutes due to the injury. If McDaniels is sidelined, Kyle Anderson, Troy Brown and Nickeil Alexander-Walker would be candidates for increased roles.

McDaniels will not return to Saturday's game against the Pacers due to a tailbone bruise. He finished with five points (2-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt), one rebound and one steal in 18 minutes.

McDaniels was clearly uncomfortable on the court and wasn't moving around well. Presumably, he'll be day-to-day going forward with his status in the air for Monday's game against Miami. If McDaniels misses time, the Timberwolves will likely rely on Kyle Anderson, Troy Brown and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

McDaniels (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Mavericks.

Minnesota will be thrilled to have both Anthony Edwards (hip) and McDaniels (ankle) back in action Thursday. McDaniels has missed the past eight games for the Timberwolves, so there's a good chance he'll have some restrictions. With Minnesota getting healthier, the fantasy value of Troy Brown and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is likely to trend down.

McDaniels (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game versus the Mavericks.

McDaniels returned to action Tuesday after missing the previous eight games with an ankle injury but is in danger of missing Thursday's contest. Troy Brown and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will likely receive extended minutes if McDaniels is ultimately ruled out.

McDaniels provided 12 points (5-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT) and three rebounds over 27 minutes during Monday's 121-107 loss to the Pelicans.

McDaniels returned after missing the last eight games with an ankle injury, ending as one of five Timberwolves with a double-digit point total while leading all bench players in minutes played in the defeat. McDaniels has tallied 10 or more points in eight contests this season as he continues to work his way back into the rotation following his injury absence.

McDaniels (ankle) is active for Monday's game against the Pelicans.

McDaniels has missed his team's last eight games while recovering from a sprained right ankle, and it appears the team is preparing to ease him back into action off the bench Monday. Troy Brown will enter the starting five at shooting guard with Anthony Edwards (hip) out of commission, bumping Nickeil Alexander-Walker to small forward.

McDaniels (ankle) is questionable for Monday's matchup in New Orleans.

McDaniels has missed eight straight games since spraining his right ankle against the Knicks on Nov. 20. If he returns Monday, McDaniels will presumably be under a minute restriction following his lengthy absence.

McDaniels was cleared to workout and participate in individual on-court activities Tuesday.

McDaniels is exactly two weeks removed from suffering a Grade 1 right lateral ankle sprain. He was initially diagnosed with a 2-3 week window to return to gameplay, so while he appears to be slightly behind in his recovery, McDaniels could ascend to five-on-five basketball activities throughout the coming week. Minnesota owns the top defensive rating in the league through 19 games, but McDaniels, as well as Jordan McLaughlin (knee), ramping up to return to action bodes well for the Timberwolves' rest-of-season outlook.

McDaniels (ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week with a 2-3 week recovery timeline, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right lateral ankle sprain. McDaniels dealing with the lowest grade of sprains aligns with his initial recovery window and bodes well for his rest-of-season outlook. Kyle Anderson and Troy Brown will be tasked with additional usage, although it's unclear how Minnesota will address its starting lineup in McDaniels' absence.

Coach Chris Finch said Tuesday that McDaniels (ankle) is "certainly not going to be a day-to-day" situation and will "probably be [out] a week or so, Joe Nelson of Sports Illustrated reports.

Finch added that McDaniels still needs to go through further testing Tuesday, but it sounds like he'll miss at least a few games. Nickiel Alexander-Walker started the second half of Monday's win over the Knicks in McDaniels' stead and finished with 33 minutes, but Troy Brown and Naz Reid are also candidates for increased roles until McDaniels is cleared to return.

McDaniels won't return to Monday's game against New York due to a right ankle sprain, Dane Moore of 'The Dane Moore NBA Podcast' reports.

McDaniels rolled his ankle during the first quarter of Monday's action, and he was spotted hobbling to the locker room prior to being officially ruled out. Troy Brown and Kyle Anderson are the team's two top candidates to receive additional opportunities with McDaniels out of commission.

McDaniels was ejected from Tuesday's game versus the Warriors with 10:17 remaining in the first quarter, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels and Klay Thompson were both ejected for an altercation that occurred between the two that also saw Draymond Green get called for a Flagrant 2 foul. McDaniels's absence will likely lead to extended minutes for Troy Brown and Kyle Anderson.

McDaniels finished Monday's 114-109 overtime win over the Celtics with 20 points (8-18 FG, 4-9 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal across 45 minutes.

McDaniels tallied his best outing of the young season, finishing as one of two Wolves players with 20 or more points in Monday's overtime victory over the Celtics. McDaniels posted 20 points for the first time this season, also connecting on a season-high mark from three in the win. Over four appearances this year, McDaniels has reached double figures in scoring twice.

McDaniels (calf) will play in Wednesday's game against the Nuggets.

McDaniels will suit up for a second straight outing after missing a pair of contests with a strained left calf to open up the season. In his 2023 debut, he logged 24 minutes and scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. While he likely won't handle a full workload, expect McDaniels to see a few more minutes than he did Monday.

McDaniels is probable for Wednesday's game versus the Nuggets due to a left calf strain.

McDaniels is expected to play in his second straight game after missing the first two contests of the season with a calf injury. While McDaniels only played 24 minutes in season debut, he will likely see his playing time ramp up over his next couple of outings.

McDaniels ended with 12 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and one block across 24 minutes during Monday's 127-113 loss to the Hawks.

After missing Minnesota's first two games of the season with a calf injury, McDaniels saw a smaller workload than usual -- he averaged 30.6 minutes a night across 79 games in 2022-23 -- but still delivered solid production. The fourth-year forward will be the glue between Anthony Edwards in the backcourt and the twin towers of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt, but even without high usage he can still contribute useful fantasy numbers due to his defensive chops.

McDaniels (calf) is active for Monday's game against Atlanta, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels will make his season debut after being sidelined for Minnesota's first two contests. His return marks a boon for the Timberwolves' defense. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will head to the second unit.

McDaniels (calf) is questionable for Monday's matchup against the Hawks.

This is an encouraging step forward, as McDaniels was immediately ruled out for the regular-season opener and was initially doubtful for Saturday's contest. However, McDaniels still isn't cleared to make his regular-season debut. If he remains sidelined for a third straight game, Nickeil Alexander-Walker would presumably draw another start.

McDaniels (calf) won't play Saturday against the Heat, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

Minnesota's head coach Chris Finch confirmed the absence of McDaniels, but since he was always going to be unlikely to play, this is not really surprising. His next chance to return will come against the Hawks on Oct. 30.

McDaniels (calf) is doubtful for Saturday's game against the Heat.

McDaniels suffered a calf strain during the preseason and missed Minnesota's regular-season opener against Toronto. While he'll likely be sidelined for a second straight game, McDaniels did return to practice Friday and was a full participant, so it appears he's trending toward potentially suiting up Monday in Atlanta.

McDaniels (calf) was a full participant in Friday's practice, Alan Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels missed Minnesota's season opener with a left calf strain he suffered in the preseason. However, his full practice participation is a good sign of his availability for Saturday's matchup with Miami. McDaniels will likely replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the starting lineup when he returns to action.

McDaniels (calf) is out for Wednesday's regular-season opener against Toronto.

McDaniels suffered a preseason calf strain that will ultimately hold him out of Wednesday's contest. It's a critical absence for Minnesota defensively, but McDaniels is regarded as day-to-day and will have until Saturday versus Miami to heal. Troy Brown, Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid will absorb his workload.

McDaniels (calf) and the Timberwolves agreed to a five-year, $136 million contract extension Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

This is a testament to how much the Timberwolves believe in the versatile forward. Already an elite defender, McDaniels has also made strides on the offensive end and hit 39.8 percent of his three-pointers in 2022-23. Going into his age-23 season, McDaniels has been a popular late-round pick in fantasy drafts because of his ability to contribute across the board. As for Opening Night against the Raptors on Wednesday, the forward is currently considered questionable with left calf soreness.

McDaniels (calf) was limited to individual drills Sunday, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

McDaniels is currently sidelined due to left calf soreness. He was expected to be re-evaluated ahead of Opening Night, but it looks like he's trending toward being doubtful for Wednesday's regular-season opener in Toronto. If McDaniels is out, Kyle Anderson would presumably slide into the starting lineup, but Troy Brown, Naz Reid and potentially Leonard Miller could see increased playing time as well.

McDaniels (calf) is expected to be sidelined and re-evaulated in 7-10 days, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

McDaniels' current timeline means he will be re-evaluated right around the time the regular-season tips off, which means he could be sidelined to start the year. When healthy, he is expected to start at small forward for the Timberwolves this season. Should the young-wing ultimately miss any time, Troy Brown and Kyle Anderson are prime candidates to replace his minutes. The 23-year-old averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.4 triples across 30.6 minutes per game last season. He also shot a career-high 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.

McDaniels won't play in Saturday's preseason game versus the Mavericks due to left calf soreness.

McDaniels doesn't appear to have suffered a serious injury, but he will be held out of Saturday's contest. His next chance to suit up will be next Saturday's preseason game against the Knicks.

McDaniels moved past his hand injury over the summer and should be healthy ahead of training camp, Alec Ausmus of KSTP reports.

McDaniels suffered a fractured hand while punching a wall in the tunnel during the Timberwolves' regular-season finale last year and was forced to miss the playoffs. However, he indicated in mid-June that he's good to go and learned a lot about himself during the offseason. McDaniels is a candidate for a contract extension before the start of the 2023-24 season after taking a step forward last year, averaging 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.6 minutes per game over 79 appearances.

Minnesota announced Monday that McDaniels fractured his third and fourth metacarpals in his right hand, has been placed in a cast and will be out indefinitely.

McDaniels punched a wall in the Timberwolves tunnel on the way to the locker room at halftime of Sunday's win over the Pelicans and was almost immediately ruled out for the contest. The third-year forward has been an integral part of Minnesota's starting unit this season, posting 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals-plus-blocks in 30.6 minutes across 79 appearances (all starts). Rudy Gobert (suspension) and Naz Reid (wrist) will also miss the team's Play-In matchup versus the Lakers on Tuesday, so Taurean Prince and Kyle Anderson will presumably play major roles in the frontcourt.

McDaniels (hand) has been diagnosed with a fracture in his right hand after he punched a wall during Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Seemingly out of frustration, McDaniels took a swing at the wall in the Timberwolves' tunnel on the way to the halftime locker room, and the team quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the contest. While Minnesota went on to defeat the Pelicans, the Wolves will now head into their Play-In matchup against the Lakers without the services of their most versatile defender. The Wolves also sent starting center Rudy Gobert home at halftime after he punched teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout in the second quarter.

McDaniels won't return to Sunday's contest against the Pelicans due to a right hand injury.

It's unclear what happened with McDaniels, but the former Washington standout won't return for the rest of the game, shortening the team's depth on the bench even more. The severity of the injury is unknown, and as things stand now, it's unclear if McDaniels could be available for the Play-In Tournament.

McDaniels had 15 points (7-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 0-1 FT), six rebounds, one block and three steals over 41 minutes during Tuesday's 107-102 victory over the Nets.

McDaniels got it done on both ends of the floor, building on what has been a nice stretch of games. In fact, over the past three games, McDaniels has recorded 12 combined steals and blocks, while also scoring 40 points including six triples. While his season has been a bit up and down, he remains a must-roster player, currently sitting just outside the top 100 for the season.

McDaniels finished Monday's 119-115 win over the Kings with 20 points (8-15 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 39 minutes.

McDaniels scored just one point in 10 minutes during Monday's three-point win over Golden State, but he bounced back with a stellar performance during the second half of Minnesota's back-to-back. Across 12 March appearances, the third-year forward has averaged 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals-plus-blocks in 31.3 minutes per game.

McDaniels closed Wednesday's 125-124 win over Atlanta with 25 points (9-17 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, four assists and two blocks over 36 minutes.

McDaniels tied his career-high scoring mark -- set earlier this month against the Bulls -- and extended his streak of games with double-digit scoring figures to seven contests. He's averaging 16.5 points per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor over his last 10 outings.

McDaniels ended with 25 points (7-15 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 7-8 FT), six rebounds, four assists and one steal across 45 minutes during Friday's 139-131 double-overtime loss to the Bulls.

McDaniels' 25 points mark a new career high for the high-flying forward. He showed the full display offensively, taking players off the dribble and shooting from the perimeter with confidence as he hit four triples for the seventh time in his career. With Anthony Edwards rolling his ankle pretty good Friday, McDaniels may have more offense flowing through him after this display.

McDaniels accumulated 19 points (8-10 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), one rebound, two blocks and one steal in 26 minutes during Monday's 136-115 win over Atlanta.

McDaniels' big night got off to a fast start as he scored eight of Minnesota's first 12 points. The Hawks had Trae Young defending McDaniels, but Atlanta had to change their defensive matchups, as the size discrepancy proved to be a challenge. The 22-year-old has consecutive games with at least 15 points. McDaniels has used his length to produce some blocks as well. He has rejected a shot in six straight games, his longest stretch of the season. He doesn't produce in many other categories though, limiting his value.

McDaniels amassed 20 points (8-12 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 35 minutes during Tuesday's 108-101 victory over the Clippers.

McDaniels seems to have the Clippers' number. After dropping an 18/4/3 line on them back in January, he came to Crypto.com Arena and put up another excellent number. McDaniels' February results fell a bit short of expectations, however. Over 11 games, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

McDaniels posted 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt), three rebounds, one assist and three steals in 33 minutes during Sunday's 109-104 loss to Golden State.

McDaniels featured on both ends of the floor, continuing what has been a strong two weeks. Over that time he sits inside the top 100 in 12-team leagues, thanks largely to an uptick in his offensive output. Despite a few ups and downs, McDaniels role has remained relatively consistent this season. While the upside is limited, he remains a solid addition to most fantasy squads.

McDaniels logged 19 points (7-8 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-7 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 31 minutes during Monday's 124-121 victory over the Mavericks.

McDaniels turned in his best scoring performance since Jan. 2 with the help of an efficient shooting night, and he also showed up on the defensive end after failing to record a block or steal Friday in Memphis. The Washington product played a big role in his team's final stand to secure the win, as he helped shut down Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic on Dallas' final possession. McDaniels has been a bit inconsistent on the offensive end, totaling six or fewer points in two of his last four appearances.

McDaniels was ejected Friday vs. the Magic.

Mo Bamba and Austin Rivers got into a heated altercation and several other players got involved. Bamba and Rivers appeared to be the only players throwing punches, so they could be looking at suspensions. McDaniels finished the night with eight points, three rebounds, one assist, two blocks and a three-pointer in 23 minutes.

McDaniels logged nine points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal over 38 minutes during Wednesday's 119-114 overtime victory over Golden State.

McDaniels finally entered the stat column on the defensive end of the court after failing to record a defensive stat in his previous three matchups. It's typically been either feast or famine for the Washington product on the defensive end, but he was certainly locked in Wednesday evening. McDaniels is averaging 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists over his last 10 contests.

McDaniels ended with 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-3 FT), three rebounds and four assists over 33 minutes during Monday's 118-111 overtime loss to the Kings.

McDaniels had his third straight game without registering a defensive stat, continuing what has been an underwhelming period. He is now outside the top 170 over the past two weeks, averaging just 1.2 combined steals and blocks. He isn't out of place on a 12-team roster but the lack of upside does mean managers shouldn't be afraid to send him packing.

McDaniels returned to Monday's contest against the Kings, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

The forward exited Monday's matchup in the first quarter but is back with the team for the start of the second quarter. The forward appears to be all clear of injury, but fantasy managers should still check in on his status for his next contest Wednesday against the Warriors.

McDaniels exited Monday's contest against the Kings early and went to the locker room, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

The extent of the forward's injury is unknown at this time. If McDaniels is ultimately forced time miss time, the likes of Taurean Prince, Naz Reid and Austin Rivers figure to receive more playing time.

McDaniels finished with eight points (4-10 FG, 0-4 3Pt), six rebounds and three assists over 31 minutes during Friday's 111-100 victory over the Grizzlies.

McDaniels logged 31 minutes in the win, although you wouldn't know it to look at the final box score. After an encouraging start to the season, McDaniels has slowed of late, sitting just inside the top 150 in standard formats over the past two weeks. While he should be looked at as a viable 12-team asset, the lack of upside does mean managers could consider parting ways should a hot free agent be available.

McDaniels ended Wednesday's 122-118 loss to Denver with 18 points (7-10 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 34 minutes.

McDaniels impressed on both sides of the rock in the loss, shooting efficiently and collecting at least three blocks for the sixth time this season. His production fluctuates wildly from game to game, but he's still worth rostering in many fantasy leagues. Since Christmas, he's averaging 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.9 minutes.

McDaniels finished Saturday's 110-102 win over the Cavaliers with nine points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four steals, two rebounds and one block in 28 minutes.

The Timberwolves took advantage of a sloppy Cavaliers squad that committed 18 turnovers on the night, with all of McDaniels, Kyle Anderson and Jaylen Nowell coming away with multiple steals. McDaniels didn't supplement his defensive production with much on the offensive end, but he had averaged a respectable 13.8 points and 1.8 three-pointers per game on 55.6 percent shooting from the field over his previous four outings.

McDaniels finished with 11 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes during Wednesday's 135-118 loss to the Pistons.

The third-year forward has become a solid complementary piece of the puzzle for Minnesota. McDaniels has scored in double digits in 11 of the last 14 games, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.3 threes, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals over that stretch while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and 41.9 percent from beyond the arc.

McDaniels amassed eight points (3-11 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds and three assists over 33 minutes during Saturday's 116-104 loss to the Pistons.

McDaniels, along with basically the rest of his teammates, was simply not up to the task Saturday as the Timberwolves fell to the lowly Pistons. After scoring double-digits in seven straight games, McDaniels has now slumped to score a combined 12 points over his past two games. He remains a must-roster player but managers will certainly be hoping for a return to form sooner rather than later.

McDaniels totaled 19 points (8-12 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 34 minutes during Wednesday's 119-118 loss to the Pelicans.

McDaniels knocked down 66.7 percent of his field goals and turned in his best scoring performance since Nov. 9 against the Suns. He led his team with nine points in the fourth quarter by shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and he also added three rebounds and three assists in 12 minutes of action.

McDaniels finished with 16 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block across 30 minutes in Monday's 113-110 loss to the Heat.

For the second straight contest, McDaniels contributed in every major fantasy category, doing so while shooting efficiently from the field. McDaniels had already been the beneficiary of Karl-Anthony Towns suffering a calf injury in late November that will likely keep him sidelined heading into the 2023 portion of the schedule, but Kyle Anderson's (illness) shorter-term absence has also aided McDaniels to some degree. While Anderson has been out the past four games, McDaniels has cleared 30 minutes each time out while averaging 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 three-pointers, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals.

McDaniels accumulated 17 points (7-15 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-3 FT), six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals in 39 minutes during Friday's 121-109 loss to the Celtics.

McDaniels hadn't recorded a block or steal in either of his previous two games, so Friday's effort was a nice change of pace on that front. He also attempted a season-high 15 shots in the tilt and fell just one assist shy of matching his season high in that column. McDaniels has proven worthy of usage in most fantasy lineups over the past couple of weeks, ranking inside the top 70 thanks to his all-around fantasy contributions. He should remain involved on both ends but could see his production scaled back whenever Karl-Anthony Towns (calf)is cleared to return.

McDaniels provided 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists across 32 minutes during Wednesday's 104-99 loss to the Mavericks.

McDaniels knocked down 50.0 percent of his field goals on limited attempts and also drilled a pair of threes. He's now hit two triples in three of his last four matchups and is averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks over this brief span.

McDaniels produced two points (1-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt), one rebound, one assist, one block and one steal across 28 minutes during Monday's 133-112 loss to the Trail Blazers.

McDaniels was nowhere to be seen in the loss, putting forth his worst performance of the season. Despite the consistent minutes, it's been rough going of late for McDaniels, sitting outside the top 175 over the past two weeks. While he does remain a viable commodity across standard formats, his lack of multi-category appeal does mean he is better suited to specific team builds.

McDaniels (illness) started at power forward and finished with eight points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3Pt), one rebound, one steal and one block across 18 minutes in Saturday's 135-128 loss to the Thunder.

Back in action after a three-game absence due to the illness, McDaniels reclaimed a spot in the starting five. After typically being deployed as the Wolverines' top small forward, McDaniels moved up to power forward in place of Karl-Anthony Towns (calf), who is expected to be sidelined for at least the next month. Though he didn't see a notable spike in production in his first game sans Towns, McDaniels' low minutes Saturday were mostly the result of foul trouble. He should see his playing time pick up while Towns is out of the lineup.

McDaniels is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Thunder.

McDaniels returned to practice Friday following a three-game absence due to illness, and as expected, he's back in the lineup with Kyle Anderson heading to the bench. McDaniels is averaging a career-best 11.4 points per game this season across 19 appearances, all of them as a starter.

McDaniels isn't listed on the injury report for Saturday's matchup against the Thunder.

McDaniels returned to practice Friday and appears set to play Saturday following a three-game absence due to an illness. The third-year forward has started all 19 of his appearances this season and is averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in 29.9 minutes per game.

Head coach Chris Finch indicated Friday that McDaniels (illness) took the floor during practice, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

It's unclear to what level McDaniels participated in the session, but the team's injury report release later in the day for Saturday's contest should provide more clarity. McDaniels last saw action Nov. 25 against the Hornets.

McDaniels (illness) won't play in Wednesday's game against Memphis.

McDaniels will miss a third straight game with an illness. Austin Rivers will presumably garner another start with McDaniels officially out Wednesday.

McDaniels (illness) is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday's clash with the Grizzlies, Dane Moore of BringMeTheNews.com reports.

McDaniels was listed as questionable leading up to the contest, so his game-time status isn't surprising. However, official word on his status isn't likely to surface before the earliest lineup lock and likely won't come until the Timberwolves take the floor for warmups.

McDaniels (illness) is questionable for Wednesday's game versus the Grizzlies.

McDaniels has missed the last two games due to illness. Austin Rivers has started the last two games in the third-year forward's absence. McDaniels will have plenty of time to recover for Saturday's game against the Thunder if he's unavailable Wednesday.

McDaniels (illness) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Wizards, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels sat out Sunday against the Warriors due to an illness, and he'll remain sidelined for the second half of the back-to-back set. His next chance to suit up will be Wednesday against Memphis.

McDaniels (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Warriors.

McDaniels was a late addition to the injury report due to an illness and was initially listed as questionable, but coach Chris Finch said he didn't expect the forward to play. Kyle Anderson and Austin Rivers are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of McDaniels' first absence of the season.

McDaniels (illness) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Warriors, but head coach Chris Finch said he doesn't expect McDaniels to play, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

The Timberwolves will likely wait and see what McDaniels is able to do in pregame warmups ahead of Sunday's 3:30 p.m. ET tipoff before making a call on his status, but the third-year forward looks to be trending toward his first absence of the 2022-23 season. If McDaniels is sidelined, Kyle Anderson and Austin Rivers would be the main candidates to absorb most of his vacated minutes.

McDaniels is questionable for Sunday's matchup against Golden State due to an illness.

McDaniels was a late addition to the injury report due to an illness. If he misses his first game of the season, Kyle Anderson, Jaylen Nowell and Naz Reid would be candidates for increased roles against the Warriors.

McDaniels struggled in Friday's 110-108 loss to the Hornets to the tune of two points (1-7 FG, 0-3 3PT), four rebounds, one assist and two block across 24 minutes.

McDaniels two points were a season-low and snapped a streak of four straight games in double-digits. It was also the first time in seven games he did not see at least 30 minutes on the court. Chalk it up to an off-night for the young wing will look to bounce back Sunday when Minnesota hosts the Warriors.

McDaniels ended with 18 points (8-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and four blocks across 31 minutes during Wednesday's 115-101 win over the Pacers.

Minnesota made a remarkable 61.0 percent of its shots Wednesday and McDaniels played a key role by going 8-for-11 from the field. After only scoring in double-digits four times in the season's first nine games, the 22-year-old has reached that mark in four straight contests and seven of his last nine appearances. He's made 57.4 percent of his shots and 43.8 percent of his three-point tries over the last 10 games.

McDaniels posted 10 points (4-12 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 35 minutes during Wednesday's 126-108 win over the Magic.

McDaniels missed five of his last six shot attempts and produced one of his worst shooting nights of the season. The 22-year-old has been quite efficient offensively this season -- making 53.7 percent of his tries -- but struggled to find the bottom of the net Wednesday. Through 15 contests, he is putting up career-high averages in minutes, points, assists, steals and blocks.

McDaniels closed with 15 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT), four rebounds, two blocks and three steals in 34 minutes before fouling out of Friday's 114-103 loss to the Grizzlies.

McDaniels posted a versatile and efficient stat line. The 22-year-old's free throw attempts were encouraging, with Friday marking just the second contest he's earned more than three attempts. Notably, McDaniels has fouled out in two of Minnesota's last three contests.

McDaniels recorded 24 points (10-14 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and a block across 38 minutes in Wednesday's 129-117 loss against the Suns.

McDaniels was trending downwards after putting up single-digit scoring figures in five of his previous six contests, but he came out of nowhere to put in a season-high scoring mark in this loss. This was only the second time McDaniels reached the 20-point mark, though, so it'd be extreme to expect this kind of production on a regular basis going forward.

McDaniels closed with six points (3-6 FG, 0-2 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes before fouling out of Monday's 120-107 loss to the Knicks.

McDaniels fouled out in just 17 minutes Monday, continuing what has been a steady decline over the past few games. He opened the season, with a flurry, providing elite defensive numbers while chipping in on the offensive end. However, he has now accumulated just one steal and two blocks over the past four games, scoring a total of just 32 points. He remains a hold in standard formats but managers will want to keep an eye on his trajectory moving forward.

McDaniels amassed four points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and one assist in 24 minutes during Monday's 115-106 loss to the Spurs.

After scoring is double figures in each of his first three appearances, McDaniels struggled to find an offensive rhythm Monday. The third-year forward is known for his defensive prowess, so his strong offensive start to the season was certainly encouraging. However, his offensive production will likely be sporadic during the 2022-23 campaign. Across four appearances (all starts), McDaniels has posted 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 assists in 31.5 minutes per game.

McDaniels racked up 19 points (5-10 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 9-10 FT), six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 115-108 win over the Thunder.

Although McDaniels was unable to convert any of his attempts from beyond the arc Wednesday, he shot 50 percent from the floor and 90 percent from the charity stripe to help lead Minnesota to the victory. The 22-year-old is a strong defender, but it was encouraging to see him begin the year with a strong offensive performance after he averaged just 9.2 points and 1.1 assists per game last year.

The Timberwolves exercised McDaniels' fourth-year rookie option for 2023-24.

McDaniels will become a restricted free agent after the 2023-24 season. McDaniels has earned the Timberwolves' starting small forward role after averaging 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 25.8 minutes over 70 games last season. The third-year forward has already become the team's best perimeter defender.

McDaniels will start at small forward to begin the regular season, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports.

As expected, McDaniels will receive his first opportunity to be a full-time starter for 2022-23 after averaging 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.8 minutes per contest last season. The third-year wing has indicated that he has his sights set on making the NBA's All-Defensive Team this season, which could certainly be possible in his expanded role.

McDaniels has not been ruled out for Wednesday's preseason game against the Lakers, Darren Wolfson of SKORNorth.com reports.

McDaniels is not the "J-Mac" referenced in Timberwolves coach Chris Finch's comment about who is not playing Wednesday. Instead, Jordan McLaughlin is the player who has been ruled out Wednesday.

McDaniels won't play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Lakers for rest purposes, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels will remain on the sideline Wednesday along with a number of teammates who are usually part of the regular rotation. With Taurean Prince also resting, Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid could see extra minutes in the frontcourt Wednesday.

McDaniels totaled 15 points (5-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal across 25 minutes off the bench during Saturday's 130-117 victory over the Grizzlies.

The second-year forward came through in his first career playoff game, posting his best scoring total off the bench since late February. McDaniels scored a total of 24 points in his prior four games, however, and the 21-year-old remains an erratic contributor in a secondary role for Minnesota.

McDaniels (ankle) is active for Thursday's game against the Spurs, Dane Moore of BringMeTheNews.com reports.

The forward will be available to play off the bench for a second straight matchup, as McDaniels rejoined the lineup Tuesday after a lengthy absence due to an ankle injury. McDaniels is averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 68 contests.

Head coach Chris Finch said Thursday that McDaniels (ankle) is feeling "just fine, physically" after making his return to action Tuesday against Washington, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.

While McDaniels is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against San Antonio, it sounds as though Finch is expecting him to play, as he told reporters that he's hoping to get McDaniels more minutes and more usage over the team's final two regular-season contests. Prior to playing Tuesday, McDaniels had missed a string of nine straight games with a sprained left ankle.

McDaniels (ankle) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Spurs.

McDaniels returned from a nine-game absence and played 15 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Wizards, so he could see a similar workload Thursday if he's cleared before tipoff. The 21-year-old is averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.9 minutes per game this season.

McDaniels (ankle) finished with zero points (0-1 FG), two rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes Tuesday in the Timberwolves' 132-114 loss to the Wizards.

McDaniels offered little production and was a minus-7 during his time on the court, but the Timberwolves were likely just happy to have a key piece of their second unit back on the floor after he missed the previous three weeks of action. Prior to getting hurt, McDaniels was in a near-even timeshare at power forward with started Jarred Vanderbilt, but Vanderbilt held a five-minute edge in Tuesday's contest.

McDaniels (ankle) will be available for Tuesday's game against the Wizards, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports. He'll be limited to 15 minutes of action.

McDaniels will be back in action for the first time since March 14, but given the minutes restriction he's probably best avoided in DFS contests.

McDaniels (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday's game against the Wizards.

McDaniels suffered a high-ankle sprain in mid-March and has been sidelined since. However, he appears to be progressing towards a return and has been listed as questionable for the first time since the initial injury. When he does eventually return, the second-year forward will likely operate under a minutes limit to avoid any potential setbacks.

McDaniels (ankle) is doubtful for Tuesday's game against the Wizards.

McDaniels suffered a high-ankle sprain in mid-March and has been sidelined since. While he'll likely remain out Tuesday, he's been upgraded to doubtful for the first time since the initial injury, so he may be gearing up for a potential playoff return.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Wednesday that McDaniels (ankle) has been cleared for some basketball activity and will be re-evaluated in one week, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels suffered a high-ankle sprain in mid-March and was expected to miss at least two weeks. However, that timeline has now been extended to three weeks and may even continue into the postseason. In his absence, Jarred Vanderbilt and Taurean Prince should both continue to see increased playing time.

McDaniels (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Raptors.

McDaniels suffered a high-ankle sprain in mid-March and was expected to miss at least two weeks. He's due for an evaluation soon, but it currently remains unclear when he'll be able to return to action. In the meantime, Jarred Vanderbilt and Taurean Prince should continue to see increased playing time.

Coach Chris Finch said Wednesday that McDaniels is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, Jace Frederick of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

McDaniels sustained his injury Monday against the Spurs and is slated to miss at least two weeks before he's re-evaluated near the end of March. However, his diagnosis signals that he could be sidelined longer than two weeks. Jarred Vanderbilt (quadriceps) and Taurean Prince should see an uptick in playing time in McDaniels' absence.

McDaniels suffered a sprained left ankle during Monday's game against the Spurs and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

McDaniels has been an important part of the Wolves' defensive gameplan. He's started 31 games this season, with averages of 8.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks in those games. At best, it sounds like he could return at the end of the month, but fantasy managers should be prepared for the forward to miss time into April, possibly bumping up against the postseason. While McDaniels is shelved, more minutes will be in store for Jarred Vanderbilt (quadriceps), Taurean Prince and other forwards.

McDaniels left Monday's game against the Spurs after suffering an ankle injury, Jace Frederick of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

McDaniels suffered the injury during the second half and had to be helped to the locker room. The team did not provide any further updates, but he was unsurprisingly unable to return. If McDaniels is forced to miss an extended period of time, look for Taurean Prince and Josh Okogie to step into more playing time.

McDaniels will start Saturday's game against the Heat.

With Jarred Vanderbilt (quadriceps) out, McDaniels joins the starters. In his past five starts, he's averaged 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in 26.8 minutes.

McDaniels tallied 12 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, three blocks and one assist in 32 minutes Friday in the Timberwolves' 118-110 loss to the Magic.

With both Anthony Edwards and Jarred Vanderbilt healthy and in the lineup for the first time since Feb. 28, McDaniels headed to the bench following a five-game run in the starting five. The demotion to the second unit didn't come with a decreased role, as McDaniels saw 12 more minutes than Vanderbilt and handily outplayed him. Even if Vanderbilt retains his spot on the top unit moving forward, McDaniels should continue to split minutes with him at power forward and remain relevant in at least 14-team leagues and deeper.

McDaniels will come off the bench Friday against the Magic.

With the Wolves essentially at full health, McDaniels will resume his usual bench role. As a reserve, he's averaged 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.7 minutes.

McDaniels will start Tuesday's game against the Warriors.

Anthony Edwards (knee) is sidelined, so McDaniels gets the nod at small forward. In his past 10 starts, he's averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 blocks in 27.8 minutes.

McDaniels scored 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-3 3Pt) and grabbed two rebounds during Friday's 50-48 loss to Team Barry during the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend.

McDaniels scored nine of Team Payton's first 16 points but was shut down until he connected on a three in the later stages of the competition. Overall, the second-year player out of Washington was efficient en route to a team-high 12 points, but he failed to contribute elsewhere.

McDaniels finished Wednesday's 103-91 loss to the Raptors with 18 points (6-13 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 5-6 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 30 minutes.

McDaniels is not expected to jump into the starting unit any time soon, but there's no question he's been playing well of late. He has scored in double digits in four of his last five games while reaching that feat in six of nine appearances this month. He's averaging 11.6 points per game in February.

McDaniels produced 18 points (7-14 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and four steals across 37 minutes during Tuesday's 126-120 overtime victory over the Hornets.

McDaniels played 37 to help make up for the loss of Anthony Edwards (ankle) mid-game, and he made the most of his opportunity. His 18 points were just four shy of his season high, and it was just the seventh time this season that he's racked up at least three assists. Defensively, the four steals matched a season high, and it was his third effort of the season with multiple steals and blocks.

McDaniels will start Wednesday's game at Sacramento.

McDaniels came off the bench the past two games but will return to the lineup with Patrick Beverley (ankle) sitting out. McDaniels has averaged 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.2 minutes across 23 starts this season.

McDaniels tallied 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt), four rebounds and three blocks across 25 minutes Sunday in the Timberwolves' 118-105 win over the Pistons.

McDaniels' two-game run in the starting five came to an end with D'Angelo Russell (lower leg) returning to the lineup, but the second-year forward brought value for those that streamed him in season-long leagues thanks to the blocks and three-point production. Don't expect McDaniels to remain a reliable producer in the latter category, however; he's converting at a 29.7 percent rate from downtown this season.

McDaniels will come off the bench Sunday against the Pistons.

McDaniels started six of the past seven games and will shift to the bench with Patrick Beverley (ankle) and D'Angelo Russell (shin) cleared to play Sunday. McDaniels has averaged 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.8 minutes as a reserve this season.

McDaniels will start Tuesday's matchup against the Nuggets, Dane Moore of BringMeTheNews.com reports.

After a one-game stint off the bench, McDaniels returns to the starting lineup. As a starter, he's averaging 7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks in 27.0 minutes.

McDaniels notched 22 points (9-9 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds and four assists over 27 minutes during Sunday's 126-106 victory over the Jazz.

McDaniels shifted back to the bench but came through with a perfect shooting night for those fantasy managers who took a chance on him. With a couple of key players on the sideline, McDaniels has been able to successfully step into a larger role, making him a realist 12-team target right now. Unfortunately, as soon as the team is healthy again, he will shift down the pecking order and subsequently become a deeper league consideration only.

McDaniels will come off the bench for Sunday's game against the Jazz.

After stringing together four straight starts, McDaniels will move back to the bench as the Wolves go with a smaller lineup featuring Anthony Edwards at the three, Malik Beasley and the two and Jordan McLaughlin at the one. Patrick Beverley (ankle) and D'Angelo Russell (lower leg) remain sidelined.

McDaniels finished Thursday's 124-115 loss to the Warriors with 14 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 33 minutes.

McDaniels started for the third straight game in place of Patrick Beverley (ankle), and he notched exactly 14 points for the second time in three contests. The second-year forward finished third on the team in scoring and was the only Warrior to scratch in both the steal and block columns. McDaniels has been an important contributor off Minnesota's bench, but he hasn't put up the numbers to make him worth rostering in most fantasy formats.

McDaniels will start in Thursday's contest against the Warriors, Dane Moore of BringMeTheNews.com reports.

McDaniels will start in place of Patrick Beverley (ankle) for the third consecutive game. Over his two-game stretch in the starting lineup, the forward is averaging 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 21.0 minutes. Expect McDaniels to revert back to his typical bench role once Beverley is fully healthy.

McDaniels notched 14 points (6-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one block in 27 minutes during Sunday's 136-125 victory over the Nets.

McDaniels came off the bench in each of the last five games, but he returned to the starting lineup since Patrick Beverley (ankle) was sidelined Sunday. The 21-year-old stepped up as a starter and scored in double figures for the first time since Jan. 5. McDaniels should return to a bench role once McDaniels is cleared to return, and he's been an unreliable fantasy contributor when he hasn't been in the starting five.

McDaniels will come off the bench Tuesday against the Pelicans, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels has started the past two games, but with Patrick Beverley (groin) returning, McDaniels will resume a reserve role. As a reserve, he's averaged 8.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 25.7 minutes.

McDaniels accumulated nine points (4-9 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and one rebound over 18 minutes during Friday's 135-105 victory over the Thunder.

With Patrick Beverley sidelined due to a groin injury, McDaniels drew his 16th start of the season. Despite the start, the second-year pro didn't see an uptick in production and failed to score in double figures for the first time in his last three games -- he came off the bench in each of the two previous contests. On the season, McDaniels is averaging 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 26.4 minutes.

McDaniels is starting Friday's game against Oklahoma City.

McDaniels came off the bench in each of his last four appearances and averaged 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game during that time. However, he'll start with Patrick Beverley (groin) sidelined Friday.

McDaniels posted 18 points (7-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, five blocks and one steal in 36 minutes during Tuesday's 96-88 loss to New York.

Making his fourth straight start for the COVID-riddled Timberwolves, McDaniels set a new season high with 18 points and reached double figures for the fifth straight game. His five blocks also established a new career best. Over the last four games, McDaniels is averaging 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks.

McDaniels ended with 11 points (4-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 39 minutes during Tuesday's 114-102 loss to the Mavericks.

McDaniels got the nod for Jarred Vanderbilt (COVID-19 protocols) and had one of the better performances of his season. In his 11 other starts, he averaged only 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 24.4 minutes. He should continue occupying the starting five as long as Vanderbilt remains in protocols.

McDaniels will start Tuesday's matchup against the Mavericks.

With five Timberwolves players in protocols, McDaniels will get the start. In his previous 11 starts, he's averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 24.4 minutes.

McDaniels played 28 minutes off the bench and provided 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-7 3Pt) and seven rebounds in Sunday's 116-111 win over the Trail Blazers.

Though McDaniels came up empty in the defensive-stats categories for the second game in a row, his playing time was an encouraging sign for his fantasy investors. Even with D'Angelo Russell (ankle) back from a three-game absence, McDaniels received his most minutes of December, as head coach Chris Finch opted to shorten the rotation by essentially cutting out Taurean Prince, Josh Okogie and Leandro Bolmaro. At least for the time being, McDaniels looks like he'll be in store for run at both forward spots behind starters Anthony Edwards and Jarred Vanderbilt.

McDaniels (illness) is available for Monday's game against the Hawks, dane reports.

McDaniels missed the past three games with the illness but will retake the court Monday for Minnesota. It was a relatively brief absence, so the 21-year-old shouldn't face significant limitations, if any.

McDaniels (illness) is probable for Monday's game against Atlanta.

McDaniels has missed each of the last three games with flu-like symptoms, but he appears to be trending toward a return. It's not yet clear whether his playing time will be monitored if he's ultimately able to suit up.

McDaniels (illness) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Nets, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels didn't travel with the team to Brooklyn and will miss his third straight game due to flu-like symptoms. On a positive note, Anthony Edwards (illness), Jarred Vanderbilt (illness) and Jaylen Nowell (illness) will all likely be available against the Nets.

McDaniels (illness) is questionable for Friday's game against the Nets.

McDaniels has missed the last two games due to flu-like symptoms, but he has a chance to return Friday. If he remains sidelined, Taurean Prince, Naz Reid and Jake Layman should see increased run.

McDaniels (illness) won't play Wednesday at Washington.

McDaniels -- along with Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaylen Nowell -- landed on the injury report with a non-COVID illness ahead of Wednesday's matchup with the Wizards, but McDaniels is the first player to be ruled out for the contest. With the other three players' statuses up in the air, it's difficult to project what Minnesota's rotations will look like until closer to the 7 p.m. CT tipoff.

McDaniels (illness) is listed questionable for Wednesday's game against Washington.

Flu-like symptoms kept McDaniels out of Monday's game against the Pacers, and he's at risk of missing another contest. Jarred Vanderbilt (illness) and Anthony Edwards (illness) are also battling a similar ailment, so the Wolves' injury report will be worth monitoring over the next 24 hours. Over his last 10 games, McDaniels is averaging 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.8 threes in 25.9 minutes.

McDaniels (illness) will not be available for Monday's game against Indiana.

An illness will ultimately cause McDaniels to miss his first game of the season as the Wolves begin a three-game week that also includes matchups at Washington (Wednesday) and Brooklyn (Friday). With Jarred Vanderbilt (illness) considered a game-time call, the Wolves could be shorthanded at forward, which would mean more minutes for Taurean Prince, Josh Okogie and potentially Naz Reid or Jake Layman.

McDaniels (illness) is questionable for Monday's game against the Pacers.

McDaniels and fellow forward Jarred Vanderbilt both landed on the injury report Monday morning with flu-like symptoms. If neither player is able to suit up against Indiana, then Taurean Prince and Naz Reid would be the most likely beneficiaries.

McDaniels will return to the bench for Saturday's game against the 76ers.

McDaniels returned to the starting five for Friday's game at Charlotte, but he struggled in 22 minutes, so the Wolves will try out a different lineup and go with Taurean Prince at the three. McDaniels, a 2020 first-round pick, still has sone long-term fantasy appeal, but he hasn't been a useful option thus far in 2021-22.

McDaniels will start Friday's matchup against the Hornets.

With Patrick Beverley (groin) out at least two weeks, McDaniels is re-joining the starting five. In his 10 previous starts this season, he's averaged 4.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 24.6 minutes.

McDaniels racked up 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt), six rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 31 minutes during Thursday's 115-90 victory over the Spurs.

Thursday marked one of McDaniels' better games this season, which was helped by 31 minutes on the floor. He's registered over 30 minutes only twice since his move to the bench. While it seems like McDaniels will be locked behind Jarred Vanderbilt on the depth chart moving forward, the coaching staff will happily ride the hot hand.

McDaniels finished with 15 points (5-14 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-6 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two steals across 32 minutes during Saturday's 129-102 loss to the Clippers.

The Timberwolves played from substantially behind for most of the contest, which may have been a factor in McDaniels getting his most minutes since Oct. 27. The second-year forward did well with the opportunity, finishing with his highest scoring output of the campaign. This was only the second time this season that McDaniels has scored in double figures.

McDaniels will come off the bench again Saturday against the Lakers, freelance NBA reporter Dane Moore reports.

McDaniels exclusively filled a starting role up until Friday's game against the Lakers, when he sat in favor of Jarred Vanderbilt. The bench role doesn't necessarily change his outlook by too much, as he attempted a season-high 10 shots Friday and scored nine points in 21 minutes.

McDaniels isn't starting Friday's game against the Lakers.

McDaniels started each of the first 10 games of the season but will come off the bench Friday. Jarred Vanderbilt will take his place in the starting lineup.

McDaniels recorded 11 points (4-9 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-3 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 31 minutes Monday against Memphis.

McDaniels finished in double figures for the first time this season, and he also drained a triple for the fourth straight game. Despite a serviceable scoring night, these types of performances are not likely to come often for McDaniels, as prior to Monday's contest, his best scoring game of the young season was five points.

McDaniels started at power forward and scored four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) with four rebounds, four steals, three blocks and an assist in 26 minutes in Wednesday's season-opening win over Houston.

McDaniels had a strong game on defense (four steals, three blocks) but took just three shots as he wasn't as involved on offense. McDaniels has upside on offense thanks to his three-point shot (36.4 percent last season) but he didn't factor into the mix Wednesday with the rest of the offense clicking. McDaniels may have a defense-oriented role if Minnesota's starters remain healthy.

McDaniels will play for Minnesota's Summer League team.

During his rookie season with the Timberwolves, McDaniels made 63 appearances and averaged 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks across 24.0 minutes per game. The Washington product will likely lead the Summer League squad that'll feature recent two-way signees Nathan Knight and McKinley Wright.

McDaniels totaled 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-7 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and one block in 32 minutes during Sunday's 136-121 win over the Mavericks.

McDaniels only missed one shot from inside the arc on his way to 19 points against the Mavericks. The 20-year-old fell just one point shy of his career high (20), but far outpaced his season averages. In 27 games as a starter, McDaniels averaged only 9.0 points on 48.2 percent shooting. The former-Husky made a great last impression and should be considered a valuable piece for Minnesota in the future, but the extent of his role remains unknown.

McDaniels is starting Sunday's game against Dallas.

McDaniels will start the final game of the regular season while Ricky Rubio comes off the bench. In his last three appearances, McDaniels has averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game.

McDaniels will come off the bench Tuesday in his return from a two-game absence due to a personal issue, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

McDaniels had been a fixture in the starting lineup dating back to late March, but he'll be coming off the bench to close out the season, it looks like. The 20-year-old forward has averaged 30.7 minutes per game over his last five outings, and he may see a slight decrease from that workload in the bench role.

McDaniels (personal) will play Tuesday against the Pistons, freelance NBA reporter Dane Moore reports.

McDaniels will return from a two-game absence due to a personal matter with only four games remaining in the regular season. Across his previous five outings, McDaniels has averaged 6.4 points on 37.9 percent shooting, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 triples and 0.8 steals per game.

McDaniels (personal) is out Sunday against the Magic.

McDaniels will remain out for a second straight game due to a personal matter. In his absence, Jarred Vanderbilt will probably draw another start.

McDaniels (personal) is ruled out for Friday's game against the Heat, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.

McDaniels will miss time due to personal reasons, rather than an injury. The Timberwolves have yet to offer a timetable for his return, but Jarred Vanderbilt seems likely to take over at power forward in the meantime.

McDaniels collected six points (2-9 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a 105-104 victory over the Jazz on Monday.

McDaniels struggled to get anything going offensively but recorded a new career-high rebound total. The forward typically doesn't get too many opportunities to score but had shot 50.0 percent or better in four consecutive games prior to Monday's contest. McDaniels has averaged 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks across his last five games.

McDaniels posted five points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes during Tuesday's loss to the Nets.

The 20-year-old failed to take advantage of the extra opportunity with Karl Anthony-Towns (personal) out of the lineup. McDaniel's scoring has been a roller coaster lately, as he's posted seven 14, four, eight, 11, four, and five over his last seven games, respectively. Before Tuesday's game, the rookie was averaging 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks over his last five games, so he'll look to bounce back defensively Wednesday at home against the Bucks.

McDaniels totaled eight points (3-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 37 minutes during Wednesday's 141-137 loss to the Pacers.

McDaniels has clearly established himself as the starting power forward for the Timberwolves, as demonstrated by the fact he played a team-high 37 minutes in the loss. His role within the opening five is typically dependant on who else is healthy and so at this point, he should be viewed as a defensive specialist with upside to produce across the board.

McDaniels scored four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 FT) to go along with five rebounds and one block across 20 minutes in Tuesday's win over the Kings.

McDaniels lost out on playing time due to a strong performance from Juancho Hernangomez and failed to play over 20 minutes for the first time in seven contests. While he'll likely see an increased role in terms of minutes going forward, his usage may suffer due to the return of D'Angelo Russell (knee).

McDaniels recorded 14 points (4-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal in 35 minutes during Saturday's loss to the 76ers.

The 20-year-old bounced back from Friday's seven-point effort to post his 10th double-digit scoring output of the season on Saturday. McDaniels was averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 three-pointers and 1.8 blocks in his previous 4 games before Thursday's performance, so tonight's bounce-back game was an encouraging sign from a developmental standpoint. The rookie out of Washington should continue to start and play heavy minutes for a young Timberwolves team currently sitting in last place in the Western Conference.

McDaniels recorded 18 points (7-13 FG, 4-9 3Pt), five rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes during Wednesday's 102-101 win over the Knicks.

The rookie continues to start, as new head coach Chris Finch seems to trust him. That's not without reason, as McDaniels, as a starter, has averaged 12.4 points on 51.5 percent shooting, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 assists in 33.9 minutes. There will only be so many shot attempts available for the forward while he shares a team with Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley and D'Angelo Russell, but he's finding a way to impact the game.

McDaniels totaled nine points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in a 128-108 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday.

McDaniels made his third start of the season but had a pretty quiet game in a blowout loss. The forward played 28 minutes and picked up at least one block and one steal for the ninth time this season. McDaniels has played an average of 24.3 minutes over his last five contests but averaged just 5.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

McDaniels will start Wednesday's game against the Mavericks.

The 20-year-old will make his third start of the season Wednesday for the Timberwolves. McDaniels averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 32.5 minutes across his two previous starts.

McDaniels will return to a reserve role for Monday's tilt versus the Thunder.

McDaniels got his second start of the season in Friday's loss to the Suns. However, he will retun to a reserve role against the Thunder, but still figures to see a relatively healthy workload off the bench.

McDaniels is starting Friday's game against the Suns.

McDaniels averaged 25.0 minutes per game over the past two contests, and he'll join the starting lineup for the second time this season during Friday's matchup. Jarred Vanderbilt will take on a bench role against Phoenix.

McDaniels (COVID-19 protocols) is available for Tuesday's game against the Lakers.

According to Jace Frederick of St. Paul Pioneer Press, McDaniels had a false COVID-19 positive test Sunday, but he's since tested negative and is available to return Tuesday evening. He's averaging 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists over his last seven contests off the bench.

McDaniels has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers due to COVID-19 protocols, Danny Marang of NBC Sports Northwest reports.

McDaniels was a late addition to the injury report after he played at least 20 minutes in each of the last three contests. In his absence, Jake Layman and Juancho Hernangomez could see increased run for Minnesota.

McDaniels is listed as out for Sunday's game against Portland due to the league's health and safety protocols, Danny Marang of NBC Sports Northwest reports.

The Timberwolves are yet to comment on the situation, but it appears McDaniels has entered the protocols, so it's likely he'll end up missing multiple games. McDaniels had just five points in 21 minutes against Portland on Saturday night, but he broke out for 20 points, four rebounds, two steals and three blocks in Thursday's win at New Orleans.

McDaniels posted 20 points (8-9 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 0-1 FT), four rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist in 26 minutes during Thursday's 135-105 win over the Pelicans.

The rookie was excellent in the blowout victory, as he scored a career-high 20 points. He easily eclipsed his previous high of 12 points. With Malik Beasley (suspension) still sidelined, McDaniels should continue seeing a boost in workload. He's played 56 combined minutes across the past two games.

McDaniels posted 11 points (4-10 FG, 3-6 3Pt), four rebounds, three blocks and an assist across 37 minutes in Wednesday's loss against the Pacers.

McDaniels logged a season-high 37 minutes and scored in double digits for the third time this month, as he has established himself as a regular bench alternative for the Timberwolves. Malik Beasley should return to the lineup Friday against Toronto, however, so McDaniels is expected to move back to the bench as a result.

McDaniels will start Wednesday's game against the Pacers, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The 20-year-old will make the first start of his career Wednesday since Malik Beasley was benched after being late for a team walkthrough. McDaniels is averaging 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.9 minutes over the past 17 games and figures to have a similar role despite starting versus Indiana.

McDaniels totaled 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3Pt), four blocks, three rebounds and three assists across 18 minutes Wednesday in the Timberwolves' 119-112 loss to the Clippers.

With Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19) back in the lineup Wednesday, Josh Okogie shifted up from a starting wing position to power forward, leaving Jarred Vanderbilt to serve as his top backup. McDaniels thus ended up seeing most of his minutes as a backup small forward behind Anthony Edwards, and the former was able to come through with an impressive outing. While he's still erratic as a shooter (39.6 field-goal percentage on the season), McDaniels has popped on the defensive end while handling a rotational role for each of the Timberwolves' last 14 games. The Timberwolves will eventually add D'Angelo Russell (leg) and Jarrett Culver (ankle) back to the mix, so it's still unclear if McDaniels will be able to maintain his rotation spot throughout the season.

McDaniels collected six points (2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT), five rebounds and one assist over 20 minutes Monday night against the Mavericks.

McDaniels scored all six of his points from deep, hitting on two of his three attempts. He also crashed the glass for five rebounds and has wrestled down five or more boards in each of his last three contests. McDaniels has scored in double figures in just one of his last 11 games, though he continues to average over 20 minutes of playing time off the bench during that stretch.

McDaniels had 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and four rebounds across 22 minutes off the bench in Monday's loss against the Cavaliers.

McDaniels was one of three bench players that scored in double digits, but he was quite effective from the field and also made an impact on the glass, grabbing two offensive boards in the process. McDaniels has scored in double digits in just two appearances, but he has played 20-plus minutes in seven of his last eight contests. He is carving up a decent role off the bench for the Timberwolves, but he is not producing enough to be a reliable fantasy asset across most formats.

McDaniels finished with six points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt), seven boards and one block in 24 minutes of a 118-94 loss to the 76ers on Friday.

McDaniels seven boards were the second most he's recorded on the year. The 2020 first round pick has increased his role over the second half of January, as he's adjusted to the pro game. He'll next get a chance to continue his ascent into the rotation against the Cavs on Sunday.

McDaniels registered 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt), eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and three blocks across 26 minutes off the bench in Wednesday's loss against the Magic.

McDaniels came out of nowhere to deliver his best performance of the season, putting up season-high marks in points, rebounds, blocks and minutes played. He had logged more than 10 minutes just twice before this game, however, and he's not likely to play a big role moving forward even if this performance might lead him to a slightly bigger role off the bench in the subsequent games.

McDaniels did not play due to a coach's decision in Wednesday's win over Detroit.

The 28th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft will have a limited role early in the season as he develops his NBA game. He could eventually battle for reserve minutes in the front court with Juancho Hernangomez struggling in the preseason and in Wednesday's opener.