The Minnesota Timberwolves played against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center on Sunday without Naz Reid, who was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Reid’s absence was a significant setback for the Timberwolves as they aimed to extend their winning streak to four games.
Although the exact moment when Reid injured his shoulder remains unclear, he did participate in the previous game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, where he contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 30 minutes off the bench, helping Minnesota secure a 122-111 victory.
Reid’s Rising Performance and Contract Extension
At 26 years old, Naz Reid is having the best season of his career and is considered a strong contender for his second Sixth Man of the Year award. He is averaging personal-best figures with 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and one steal per game. This impressive output follows a five-year contract extension worth $125 million that he signed during the offseason.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has praised Reid’s dedication and improvement over recent years, crediting his relentless work ethic for the team’s sustained competitiveness.
I can’t remember exactly the time, but it was certainly within the first window of the season. I would say he really started to kind of just really rebound at a high level and make a lot of those types of plays. Get out and run, rebound, just play with more activity. That’s what really got him going offensively,
said Finch in an interview shared by Timberwolves reporter Liam Willerup.
Team Adjustments Amid Multiple Absences
The Timberwolves also competed without Rudy Gobert, who was serving a one-game suspension during the matchup with Philadelphia. In response to missing both Reid and Gobert, players Joan Beringer, Ayo Dosunmu, and Terrence Shannon Jr. were given increased playing time to fill the gaps on the roster.
At this point, the Timberwolves have not revealed how long Reid is expected to remain sidelined, leaving uncertainty about his availability for upcoming games.
Naz Reid is out tonight. Joan Beringer starting.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 22, 2026
