Attempting to reduce wear on its players, the NBA opened its season two weeks earlier this year, a change that reduced the number of back-to-back games and ensured teams now won’t play four games in five nights.
By doing so, it also essentially moved its annual All-Star Game back, even though it still occupies the same third weekend in February.
When the Timberwolves reached their needed eight-day schedule break Friday, they had played 61 games with just 21 to go.
If Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game remains the “Midsummer Classic,” the NBA’s version isn’t mid-anything and Wolves players and coach Tom Thibodeau have noticed.