Neither of the twin towers were available, nor were the top two point guards.
The Timberwolves opened their game Friday at Oklahoma City with an injury report that read like a novel.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jordan McLaughlin and Taurean Prince were already out. In the runup to the game Rudy Gobert (ankle) and D'Angelo Russell (knee) joined them.
Hoping an influx of fresh legs and youthful enthusiasm would carry the day, coach Chris Finch pushed Naz Reid and Austin Rivers into the starting lineup and Bryn Forbes, Wendell Moore, Jr. and Nathan Knight into the rotation.
In a thrilling, gutty 112-110 victory, it worked.