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Brooklyn Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: TV info, live stream, what to watch for

By Phil Watson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: Kamari Murphy #21 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: Kamari Murphy #21 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Brooklyn Nets close out preliminary round play in the Las Vegas Summer League Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here’s how to watch.

The Brooklyn Nets will face the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night in their third game of the Las Vegas Summer League. This game will close out the preliminary round for both teams before the tournament stage is seeded after the final five games of the prelims end on Tuesday.

The Nets are 0-2 and were off Sunday after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, 90-76. Minnesota (1-1) got its first win on Sunday, beating the Toronto Raptors 103-92.

Here is the pertinent information for watching Monday night’s game:

Here are the specifics for Saturday’s matchup:

Brooklyn Nets (0-2) at Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1)
Date: Monday, July 9
Time: 11 p.m. ET
Place: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas
TV: ESPNU
Streaming: Watch ESPN

The Nets and Timberwolves will be the fifth and final game of the day at Cox Pavilion. The earlier action will include the New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Denver Nuggets.

At Thomas & Mack Center on Monday, it’s the Raptors against the Thunder, the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.

Here are three things to watch for on Monday:

1. Will there be a Rodions Kurucs sighting?

Second-round pick Rodions Kurucs has not played for the Nets in either of the first two games because the team is still trying to finalize his buyout from FC Barcelona in Spain.

Rotation regulars Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert have likewise not dressed for either of the first two games, Argentine draft-and-stash Juan Pablo Vaulet missed both games with a foot injury and undrafted rookie Tyler Davis sat out Saturday with a calf injury.

Kurucs was taken 40th overall by the Nets at last month’s NBA Draft and has agreed to terms on a four-year deal at near first-round pick rates. General manager Sean Marks was interested in Kurucs in the 2017 NBA Draft before the Latvian forward withdrew his name from consideration.

2. Yuta Watanabe, Theo Pinson making a push

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A pair of undrafted rookies have stood out for Brooklyn over the first two games.

Japanese forward Yuta Watanabe from George Washington University has been very solid off the bench for the Nets, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds and six blocked shots in 47 minutes.

Watanabe has been very active defensively while playing the power forward spot. A small forward/shooting guard in college, Watanabe has more than held his own, showing a nose for the ball. He seems to always be in the middle of the play when he’s on the court.

He’s shown a willingness to take the 3-pointer, although he’s made just 3-of-10 from deep, and he hit all six free throws he attempted against Oklahoma City as he was aggressive driving the ball.

Theo Pinson leads the Nets with 26 points through two games, to go with 12 rebounds and four assists. Pinson had a team-high 16 in the loss to the Thunder, hitting 5-of-8 from the floor and going 3-for-5 from deep.

That shooting touch will be essential for Pinson to show he deserves a training camp invitation from someone, as that was the one big knock on his game coming out of North Carolina. Overall in two games, Pinson is 7-for-17 from the floor and 4-for-11 from the 3-point arc.

Pinson really settled down in the second game after getting out of control at times on the offensive end on Friday against the Magic.

3. Timberwolves picks shining

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    • In their win over Toronto on Sunday, second-round pick Keita Bates-Diop led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes, while 20th overall selection Josh Okogie finished with 16 points in 34 minutes.

    Diop lead the Timberwolves with 33 points in two games to go with 18 rebounds and three blocks. Okogie has 26 points and 11 boards to go with four steals and four blocks.

    Amile Jefferson was undrafted in 2017 and spent last season with the G-League’s Iowa Wolves, where he averaged 17.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, is averaging a double-double so far in Las Vegas with 27 points and 27 boards.

    The former Duke power forward is making a case for a training camp invitation somewhere.

    Otherwise, Minnesota’s most recognizable name is 2012 first-round pick Perry Jones, who played three years after he was taken by Oklahoma City but has been out of the NBA since being waived by the Celtics in the 2015 preseason.

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    Jones played in 26 games with Iowa in the G-League last season, averaging 10.7 points and 5.0 rebounds on .460/.325/.720 shooting.