Kyle Ratke
NBA.com
Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Past articles by Kyle:
All-NBA Talk And NBA Finals Predictions
In his weekly column, Kyle Ratke takes a look at the All-NBA Teams and examines the NBA Finals matchup between the Cavaliers and Warriors. → Read More
Ratke On The Road
Follow along with Kyle Ratke's travel blog from the NBA Combine in Chicago. → Read More
Game 4 Scouting Report
Western Conference Playoffs, First RoundGame 4 Wolves vs. Rockets, 7 p.m.Target CenterFox Sports North, TNT, Buz’n 102.9 And just like that, we have ourselves a series. The Wolves beat the Rockets 121-105 in a must-win Game 3 at Target Center on Saturday night. That moved the series to 2-1, benefiting the Rockets, with a crucial Game 4 on deck back in Minneapolis. → Read More
Jimmy Butler Among Top-Selling Jerseys In NBA
It didn’t take Jimmy Butler long to become a fan-favorite with Timberwolves fans. The NBA released its top-selling jersey list from the 2017-18 season and Butler’s Wolves jersey ranked 15th in the league. In his first season with the Wolves, Butler was named to his fourth All-Star Game. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting a career-high 47.4 percent from… → Read More
Game 1 Scouting Report
Western Conference Playoffs, First RoundGame 1 Wolves at Rockets, 8 p.m.Toyota CenterFox Sports North, TNT, 830 WCCO Here we go. For the first time since 2004, the Wolves are in the playoffs. At the No. 8 seed, they’ll get the No. 1 seeded Houston Rockets in the first round. The Rockets finished with a league-best record of 65-17. → Read More
Scouting Report
Wolves vs. Nuggets, 7 p.m.Target CenterFox Sports North Plus, 830 WCCO Why you should be there: This is it, Wolves fans. A win for either team gets them in the playoffs (seed yet to be determined), while a loss keeps them out. Props to the schedule makers for this one. Both teams go into the game with a 46-35 record. The Wolves have a 2-1 series lead over the Nuggets. The lone loss came last… → Read More
Western Conference Playoff Update
There was only one game that had Western Conference playoff implications last night. The Jazz locked up a playoff spot with their 112-97 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles. Rookie of the Year hopeful Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Joe Ingles added 22 points and 10 assists. What pass from Mitchell to Ingles is better? → Read More
Wolves Can Clinch Playoff Berth Monday If . . .
As we head into the final days of the 2017-18 NBA season, there’s still a lot that needs to be figured out as far as the playoff race goes. The Wolves sit at 45-35, tied for eighth in the West (Minnesota has the tiebreaker over Denver at this point - the two end the season against each other on Wednesday in Minneapolis). Minnesota plays the Grizzlies at Target Center on Monday night and the… → Read More
Three Observations From Butler's Return
With the Wolves in the thick of a Western Conference playoff race that we haven’t seen in more than a decade, Jimmy Butler came back just in time. → Read More
Scouting Report
Timberwolves vs. Rockets, 6 p.m. Target CenterFox Sports North, NBA TV, 830 WCCO Why you should be there: Both teams are coming off of a game on Saturday night, although there were different results. The Rockets beat the Pelicans, 107-101, on the road, while the Wolves fell 117-101 to the Spurs in San Antonio. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. For the Rockets, they are 55-14,… → Read More
Wolves Rise Up In Standings With Win Over Mavericks
While the win wasn’t pretty, it bumped the Wolves to 44-33, fifth in the West with the Thunder and Pelicans both losing. Minnesota is a half game back from the fourth seed. → Read More
Western Conference Playoff Update
A rundown of the games from Sunday night that had Western Conference Playoff implications. → Read More
Wolves Move To Third In West With Win Over Kings
The Wolves improve to 38-26 overall, third place in the West by a half game over the Spurs. → Read More
Scouting Report
Saturday, Target Center Wolves vs. Bulls, 8:00 p.m.FS North, 830 WCCO Why you should attend: The elephant in the room here is the status of Wolves All-Star wing Jimmy Butler. Butler injured his knee on Friday night against the Rockets and will get an MRI on Saturday. We’ll know his status shortly. Nothing but the best wishes for Butler. Such an incredibly hard-working guy. → Read More
Scouting Report
Tuesday, Target CenterWolves vs. Rockets, 7:00 p.m.Fox Sports North, 830 WCCO Why you should attend: Both teams are streaking. No, not like that. Weirdo. The Wolves are looking for their 14th-straight home win, a mark that would tie a 2003-04 franchise record. The Rockets, meanwhile, have won eight-straight games. This will be a huge test for the Wolves against one of the top two teams in the… → Read More
About Last Night
The home cookin’ continued for the Wolves on Sunday night against the Kings, winning 111-106. That made a baker’s dozen (13) straight wins for the Wolves at Target Center, a mark that ranks second in team history. → Read More
Stan Van Gundy On Flip Saunders: '(He) Was Universally Liked In The League'
Normally when you have great success in any field, you gain a few enemies, as unfair as that is. That wasn’t the case for Flip Saunders, who had 427 career wins in the NBA and made the playoffs 11 times. “Someone who I think was universally liked in the league and that’s a rare feat for someone who’s won a lot of games,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. → Read More
Scouting Report
Sunday, Target Center Wolves vs. Kings, 6:00 p.m.Fox Sports North, 830 WCCO Why you should watch: The Wolves are going for win No. 13 in a row at Target Center. That would mark the second-longest streak in team history. They are going up against a very beatable Sacramento team that is a mix of young guns and veterans. It’s hard to believe, but the Wolves have just three games remaining (all at… → Read More
Anthony Brown And Amile Jefferson Named To Mid-Season All-NBA G League Western Conference Team
The G League announced Friday that Iowa Wolves players Amile Jefferson and Anthony Brown were named to the Mid-Season All-NBA G League Western Conference Team. → Read More
Scouting Report
Saturday, Target Center Wolves vs. Pelicans, 8 p.m.Fox Sports North Plus, 830 WCCO Why you should be there: There were stars at the Target Center on Thursday night against the Bucks. If I had to guess (with the Super Bowl in town) there will be even more on Saturday against the Pelicans. Plus, this is a game between two playoff teams in the West. → Read More