A Picasso, Thursday’s game in Brooklyn was not.

After edging Denver in perhaps the game of the NBA season on Tuesday, Minnesota played one that will be remembered by approximately no one on Thursday.

But it will go down in the books as Minnesota’s fourth straight win, as the Wolves pushed through Thursday’s game to top the depleted Nets 105-90.

“Pushed through is probably the right verb,” Wolves coach Chris Finch told reporters. “It didn’t feel like we had a ton of gas in the tank, understandable after the other night and the trip across (the country).”

And all wins count the same, particularly at this point in the season. The Wolves started the day in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, a desirable spot considering the top six avoid the play-in tournament.

But more and more appears to be on the table for the Wolves with each passing day. Can Minnesota pass Denver for a top-four seed and home-court advantage? It’s all in play if the Wolves run the table.

“We’re locked in. We know that every game is huge,” Center Rudy Gobert said in his postgame, on-court television interview. “Every day in practice, in film, everything we do, we can feel that everyone is locked in, and we’re taking it one game at a time and taking care of business.”

The assumption is the Wolves won’t be able to do that in each of their final five games, even with one of the league’s most favorable remaining schedules. Because it’s easy to slip up on any night amid a non-stop NBA schedule, even against a Brooklyn (25-52) team missing countless members of its usual rotation.

The Wolves have lost a number of games this season they should not have when gauging the matchup on paper.

But inconsistency has been this team’s curse.

Luckily for Minnesota (45-32), its antidote for the ailment appears to be rounding into form. Gobert was Minnesota’s most consistent player a year ago. He’s looking a lot like that again of late.

“He’s been playing his (butt) off,” Anthony Edwards said in a brief cameo during Gobert’s interview.

Gobert tallied 21 points and 18 rebounds in Thursday’s victory. Over his last six games, the center is averaging 17.8 points and 15.7 rebounds. Minnesota’s record in that span is 5-1.

“I feel great,” Gobert said. “I try to set the tone for the team every night and keep raising my level, and try to do it every minute I’m on the floor.”

That interior dominance isn’t dependent on shots falling.

So, it didn’t matter that Minnesota made just 31% of its 3-point attempts on Thursday. And the Wolves’ 18 turnovers — which led to 20 Nets’ points going the other way — were somewhat negated by the team’s 10 offensive rebounds resulting in 16 second-chance points.

“He looks like the Defensive Player of the Year that he was last year. Consistently challenging everything, finishing really well, playing strong offensively around the rim, playing very smart when the ball is delivered to him,” Finch said. “He’s playing within himself but at a high level.”

It’s a constant upon which the Wolves can rely on to win as many of their final five games and climb as high as they can in the Western Conference standings. And, perhaps more importantly, Gobert at this level of dominance could be the key to any number of potential playoff matchups for Minnesota.

It may not always be pretty, but it sure is effective. All that matters is what comes in April and May in the NBA.

Ant scare

Anthony Edwards finished with a team-high 28 points on an efficient 10-for-15 shooting from the field. He was helped to the locker room in the second quarter after twisting his ankle when landing on the foot of Nets coach Jordi Fernández on a corner 3-point attempt.

But, as is often the case for Edwards, he returned at the start of the second half and was no worse for wear.

“A little dramatic, he likes to do that,” Gobert joked. “But it’s great. He’s tough. We know he’s going to play through a lot, and he loves to compete. We love that about him.”

Related Articles

0 for 14 … and counting: Timberwolves’ wild win in Denver again put end-of-game struggles on display

Taylor cedes Timberwolves and Lynx ownership to Rodriguez, Lore

Timberwolves win wild, wild double-overtime affair in Denver

Can Timberwolves avoid play-in tournament? A guide to Minnesota’s playoff prospects

Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid suspended for Wolves game Tuesday in Denver

Minnesotans are high on newish hemp-derived products that hit liquor store shelves in 2023.

A report released Wednesday by State Auditor Julie Blaha’s office underscores the boost that a line of THC-infused beverages and gummies are bringing to profits to Minnesota’s liquor stores owned and operated by cities.

Yes, there are still 210 municipal liquor stores in Minnesota.

In 2023, the stores made a net profit of $31.6 million on record sales of $437 million. And the authorization of hemp-derived THC products had a lot to do with it, operators of the stores say.

“Let me tell you, the horse is out of the barn,” said Paul Kaspszak, executive director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association. “It’s running down the road. I know about horses running down the road, you can’t see his tail. OK, it’s here to stay.”

This was the first report to account for the legal sales of gummies and beverages containing CBD or THC. Minnesota legalized full-fledged cannabis in 2023, but broad retail sales have yet to begin, with the exception of dispensaries on tribal lands.

“We don’t have enough years to really call trends on this,” Blaha said, deferring to those on the ground to offer their firsthand accounts.

While the report doesn’t break down the types of sales, operators who appeared with Blaha for its release said they have noticed a distinct shift in the direction of alcohol alternatives. They said that wine and beer sales have trended down at the same time.

St. Anthony Village liquor operations director Mike Larson said he began offering the THC products in August of 2023 and has seen strong demand from customers.

“We have seen sales grow dramatically month after month,” he said. “Since the introduction, we have tracked an immediate impact on sales and see that our consumers are interested in learning more about the benefits of using and trying these products.”

Overall, Blaha said municipal liquor stores have experienced net profit growth over the last several decades.

“Here’s the top line: municipal liquor stores show 28 years of consecutive growth, even with an evolving market,” she said. “They’ve evolved into places to meet as a community, as well as a significant resource for public revenue.”

Thirty-one cities reported net losses in 2023, according to the report, most of which were in greater Minnesota.

Related Articles

DHS terminated visas of 5 Mankato students, Minnesota State University says

3rd person pleads guilty in $120k attempt to bribe Feeding Our Future juror

Mayo Clinic researchers lose cancer grant after cancellation by Trump administration

Identical twin sister spared prison for trying to swap identity in fatal Amish buggy crash

St. Paul: Businesses concerned with early start on Arcade Street closures

Minnesotans are high on newish hemp-derived products that hit liquor store shelves in 2023.

A report released Wednesday by State Auditor Julie Blaha’s office underscores the boost that a line of THC-infused beverages and gummies are bringing to profits to Minnesota’s liquor stores owned and operated by cities.

Yes, there are still 210 municipal liquor stores in Minnesota.

In 2023, the stores made a net profit of $31.6 million on record sales of $437 million. And the authorization of hemp-derived THC products had a lot to do with it, operators of the stores say.

“Let me tell you, the horse is out of the barn,” said Paul Kaspszak, executive director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association. “It’s running down the road. I know about horses running down the road, you can’t see his tail. OK, it’s here to stay.”

This was the first report to account for the legal sales of gummies and beverages containing CBD or THC. Minnesota legalized full-fledged cannabis in 2023, but broad retail sales have yet to begin, with the exception of dispensaries on tribal lands.

“We don’t have enough years to really call trends on this,” Blaha said, deferring to those on the ground to offer their firsthand accounts.

While the report doesn’t break down the types of sales, operators who appeared with Blaha for its release said they have noticed a distinct shift in the direction of alcohol alternatives. They said that wine and beer sales have trended down at the same time.

St. Anthony Village liquor operations director Mike Larson said he began offering the THC products in August of 2023 and has seen strong demand from customers.

“We have seen sales grow dramatically month after month,” he said. “Since the introduction, we have tracked an immediate impact on sales and see that our consumers are interested in learning more about the benefits of using and trying these products.”

Overall, Blaha said municipal liquor stores have experienced net profit growth over the last several decades.

“Here’s the top line: municipal liquor stores show 28 years of consecutive growth, even with an evolving market,” she said. “They’ve evolved into places to meet as a community, as well as a significant resource for public revenue.”

Thirty-one cities reported net losses in 2023, according to the report, most of which were in greater Minnesota.

Related Articles

DHS terminated visas of 5 Mankato students, Minnesota State University says

3rd person pleads guilty in $120k attempt to bribe Feeding Our Future juror

Mayo Clinic researchers lose cancer grant after cancellation by Trump administration

Identical twin sister spared prison for trying to swap identity in fatal Amish buggy crash

St. Paul: Businesses concerned with early start on Arcade Street closures

Minnesotans are high on newish hemp-derived products that hit liquor store shelves in 2023.

A report released Wednesday by State Auditor Julie Blaha’s office underscores the boost that a line of THC-infused beverages and gummies are bringing to profits to Minnesota’s liquor stores owned and operated by cities.

Yes, there are still 210 municipal liquor stores in Minnesota.

In 2023, the stores made a net profit of $31.6 million on record sales of $437 million. And the authorization of hemp-derived THC products had a lot to do with it, operators of the stores say.

“Let me tell you, the horse is out of the barn,” said Paul Kaspszak, executive director of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association. “It’s running down the road. I know about horses running down the road, you can’t see his tail. OK, it’s here to stay.”

This was the first report to account for the legal sales of gummies and beverages containing CBD or THC. Minnesota legalized full-fledged cannabis in 2023, but broad retail sales have yet to begin, with the exception of dispensaries on tribal lands.

“We don’t have enough years to really call trends on this,” Blaha said, deferring to those on the ground to offer their firsthand accounts.

While the report doesn’t break down the types of sales, operators who appeared with Blaha for its release said they have noticed a distinct shift in the direction of alcohol alternatives. They said that wine and beer sales have trended down at the same time.

St. Anthony Village liquor operations director Mike Larson said he began offering the THC products in August of 2023 and has seen strong demand from customers.

“We have seen sales grow dramatically month after month,” he said. “Since the introduction, we have tracked an immediate impact on sales and see that our consumers are interested in learning more about the benefits of using and trying these products.”

Overall, Blaha said municipal liquor stores have experienced net profit growth over the last several decades.

“Here’s the top line: municipal liquor stores show 28 years of consecutive growth, even with an evolving market,” she said. “They’ve evolved into places to meet as a community, as well as a significant resource for public revenue.”

Thirty-one cities reported net losses in 2023, according to the report, most of which were in greater Minnesota.

Related Articles

DHS terminated visas of 5 Mankato students, Minnesota State University says

3rd person pleads guilty in $120k attempt to bribe Feeding Our Future juror

Mayo Clinic researchers lose cancer grant after cancellation by Trump administration

Identical twin sister spared prison for trying to swap identity in fatal Amish buggy crash

St. Paul: Businesses concerned with early start on Arcade Street closures