It’s, frankly, unheard of for a 56-win team to be an underdog to advance out of a first-round series in the NBA playoffs. Particularly when said 56-win team is entirely healthy.

Yet that’s the situation in which the Timberwolves find themselves, and the reason why is obvious: Phoenix has had Minnesota’s number. The Suns won all three regular-season games between the teams handily.

So how do the Timberwolves flip the script in the postseason? A look at a few keys to the series:

Defensive matchups

The Timberwolves have to find the correct ways to match up against the Suns’ bevy of potent offensive weapons.

On Sunday, the Wolves had Anthony Edwards on Kevin Durant, Mike Conley on Brad Beal and Jaden McDaniels on Devin Booker. The results weren’t good. Beal went off. But so too did sharpshooter Grayson Allen, who Karl-Anthony Towns was chasing around the court.

It was too easy with those matchups for Phoenix to get Minnesota’s usually strong defense out of rotation to allow the Suns to generate open looks. It’s a good bet the Wolves will align differently when Game 1 tips on Saturday, but can they find the proper combination to where they aren’t overly exposed in any specific matchup against a team that does pose five legitimate offensive threats?

Lean into versatility

Regardless of who is draped on them, Booker, Durant and Beal are too good of scorers to not figure out any specific matchup to find something that works from them.

The more the Wolves can fluctuate their approach, the more effective the defense will likely be. Sometimes, it might be best to have Minnesota’s top three wing defenders — Edwards, McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — all on the court. At other points, maybe giving Durant a dose of Towns defensively for a few possessions could work.

The Wolves could switch one through four at times, and at other points blitz Booker off screen and rolls. The Wolves have developed a thorough catalog of coverages, and perhaps the more they cycle through them, depending on the personnel in the game, the less likely Phoenix will be able to sustain the offensive rhythm it carried throughout last Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Wolves.

Get Nurkic in foul trouble

Jusuf Nurkic might be the least notable of Phoenix’s five offensive starters, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t carry a ton of value. It’s a steep drop off in quality from Nurkic to Phoenix’s backup big men Thad Young and Drew Eubanks.

Phoenix doesn’t feel small when Nurkic is on the floor, due to his ability to at least be a presence at the rim and battle on the boards. Plus, offensively, Nurkic is a supreme facilitator from the top of the floor who is adept at finding cutters or executing dribble handoffs. Phoenix outscores its opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when the center is on the floor this year, easily the best net rating among the five starters.

When he’s not in the game, Phoenix’s play dips. That was evident when Nurkic was on the bench with foul trouble Sunday. That’s the good news for Minnesota. Nurkic is extremely foul prone. Whether it’s with post touches for Rudy Gobert or Towns, or Edwards’ rim attacks, the Wolves need to put Nurkic in difficult defensive positions to draw whistles and potentially limit Nurkic’s minutes.

Make Phoenix’s defense pay

In the same ways Minnesota can’t match up with Phoenix’s offense, the same should theoretically be true on the other end. The Wolves have to find ways to compromise Phoenix’s defense.

Maybe that comes with size. If Durant is covering Towns, the Wolves have to get Towns into positions to score, and then Towns has to be smart and decisive with his opportunities. If Phoenix goes ultra small with Durant at the five, then Rudy Gobert has to live at the rim — either with deep post positioning or on the offensive glass.

And the Wolves have to move the ball enough to where at some point in the possession, Edwards gets the ball and can attack a non-stacked defense to where he can take advantage of the Suns’ lack of an elite perimeter defender.

Phoenix has too many weapons for even Minnesota to entirely slow the Suns’ offense down. The Wolves will have to combat some of Phoenix’s firepower with offense of their own. To do so, they’ll need to find some easier buckets along the way.

Prediction: Phoenix in 6

The Timberwolves have built up so much good faith with their consistent excellence displayed throughout the regular season. They didn’t lose three consecutive games at any point along the 82-game regular season ride. Anthony Edwards has always been a primetime performer. Minnesota’s defensive capabilities, in general, figure to serve the team well in postseason play.

So anyone assuming the Wolves will simply find a way to figure it out in this matchup has firm ground to stand on.

But Sunday’s matchup had playoff-like stakes, and Phoenix dominated. So it feels like it was a massive adjustment from Minnesota in order for the Wolves to win this series. Perhaps they’ve identified one over the past week and it will clearly reveal itself Saturday.

But assuming something will occur when there’s no evidence to suggest it is a tough ask. Minnesota can overcome matchup deficiencies against an inferior foe. But Phoenix is also a high-level team. The Wolves are capable of beating anyone. But, in this case, we may need to see it to believe it.

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By Sally French | NerdWallet

At the airport, long lines for check-in, security screenings and even getting food can feel like a giant waste of time — and potentially disrupt even the most meticulously planned itinerary.

But with planning, you can skip some of the most annoying lines, and in some cases, get reimbursed if the line-skipping privilege requires an application fee. Here are five common airport bottlenecks and how to avoid them for free or cheap.

1. Check in

It is the year 2024, which means there’s a mobile version of all sorts of travel services. That includes the ability to check in to your flight without standing in line at the airline counter.

Most airlines allow you to check in for your flight directly through their mobile app or website within 24 hours of departure, allowing you to bypass the desk and proceed directly to security if you are flying with only carry-on luggage.

Even if you plan to check bags, checking in online via the airline app or website can help speed up the process so all you will have to do at the airport is print the bag tags at a kiosk and then hand the luggage off at the bag drop.

One way to avoid the checked-bags line altogether is to check your bag at the gate. Many airlines offer complimentary gate-checked baggage services on full flights, but it doesn’t hurt to ask the gate agent even if it’s not offered outright.

This trick doesn’t work if you’re packing common items that can’t go through the security screening, like pocket knives or liquids greater than 3.4 ounces. But assuming your stuff will pass through the security screening and you don’t need it during the flight, it might be worth waiting to check it at the gate.

2. Airport security ID check

An expedited Clear lane at San Francisco International Airport. (Photo by Sally French)

U.S. airport security technically consists of two lines: the line to get your identity checked, and the line to get you (and your stuff) screened.

You can get through airport security fast and skip to the front of the identity verification line with Clear, which is a private biometric screen company operating at more than 55 airports nationwide. Clear says it has more than 20 million members.

Once you pay for a Clear membership (which typically costs $189 per year), you can scan your fingerprints or eyes at Clear’s kiosks instead of having a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent look at your ID. From there, a Clear employee escorts you straight to the physical security screening, allowing you to cut in front of everyone else waiting to have their boarding pass or identification checked.

Though Clear membership fees are high, you might not actually have to pay them. Certain American Express credit cards offer annual statement credits to cover the cost.

3. Baggage screening

The standard TSA screening process can be slow, as most people have to remove their jackets and shoes, plus large electronics, from their bags. But with TSA PreCheck, you can leave your shoes and jackets on — and keep your laptops tucked away.

Most airports have two separate screening lanes for your carry-on luggage — one for TSA PreCheck and one for standard screening. According to the TSA, 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes (while it’s not uncommon for the standard line to take about 30 minutes).

To access those TSA PreCheck lines, you’ll need to submit an application and pay the fee, which starts at $78 and covers five years of membership. More than 4 million people enrolled in the program in 2023, bringing the total to more than 18 million active members.

There are ways to get TSA PreCheck for free, including holding a credit card that offers TSA PreCheck statement credit or redeeming rewards from certain hotel and airline loyalty programs.

4. Ordering food

At certain airports, Starbucks allows ordering through its mobile app. (Photo by Sally French)

Many airport eateries now offer mobile food ordering, where you can place an order before you arrive, and pick it up before you catch your flight.

Some restaurants, such as Starbucks, offer mobile ordering through an app. Starbucks began rolling out mobile order functionality in 2022, making it possible to order ahead and pay on the Starbucks app at participating airport outposts.

Other airports offer websites or apps that allow you to order food and beverages from participating airport restaurants. For example, the SFO2Go website allows you to order food from one of about a dozen restaurants at San Francisco International Airport. Food is typically ready within about 10-20 minutes.

5. Customs

International travelers returning to the U.S. must pass through a Customs and Border Inspection site before leaving the airport, which typically entails yet another long line.

If you hold Global Entry, which is an expedited clearance program for preapproved, low-risk travelers, you can skip the customs line. Program members get access to specific Global Entry lanes where their photo is taken to verify their membership. The process is generally much faster than the standard line — so fast that you pause only briefly on your way out of the terminal.

To get Global Entry, you’ll need to fill out an application and pay a $100 fee, which is nonrefundable (even if your application is denied). Avoid that fee by paying on one of the myriad credit cards that will cover your Global Entry application fee. Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck benefits, so if you travel internationally, it’s better to pay the slightly higher fee for Global Entry to get access to both special lanes.

 

The article 5 Airport Lines You Can Ditch (and How to Skip Them for Free) originally appeared on NerdWallet.

The annual Thielen Foundation Softball Game is returning to CHS Field — this year hosted by Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham — and presented by Choice Bank, titled the UNRL Celebrity Softball Game.

Taking place May 30 at CHS Field, gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and the event will begin with a home run derby at 6 p.m. The game begins at 7 p.m., including in-game giveaways, a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets range in price from $5 to $50 each, and sponsorships are also available for purchase, including tickets to the VIP reception and a meet and greet with Ham after the game.

In 2023, Vikings safety Harrison Smith hosted the game after Adam Thielen was signed by the Carolina Panthers and could no longer attend. The game will continue to raise support for Thielen Foundation, and also the Ham Family Scholarship Fund.

Ham and his wife Stephanie created the Ham Family Scholarship Fund in 2022 to support students of color in the Duluth-Superior area, where Ham is from, to pursue higher education and improve BIPOC retention and graduation rates through financial aid.

“I had a blast playing in the game last year,” said Ham in a statement. “I’m honored to be hosting this year and am looking forward to engaging with fans who are giving back to this community by attending.”

For more information about the celebrity-filled charity softball game or to purchase tickets, visit thielenfoundation.org.

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