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Timberwolves end on 113-61 run, crush Nuggets to force Game 7; Kent Youngblood on Lynx, WNBA May 17, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Timberwolves' Game 6 rout of the Nuggets, another twist in a strange series that now leads to a deciding Game 7 in Denver on Sunday. The final score was 115-70, with the Wolves taking control early after a sluggish start. That deciding game, by the way, will come 20 years to the day after the only other Game 7 in franchise history: Wolves 83, Kings 80 in the Western Conference semifinals.

16:00: Kent Youngblood joins Rand ahead of Friday's Lynx home opener to talk about offseason additions already paying dividends for Minnesota and a surge in league popularity fueled in part by rookie Caitlin Clark.

38:00: PWHL Minnesota has a winner-take-all game Friday, while the Twins didn't score in 26 straight innings against the Yankees.

Chris Hine on what Timberwolves must do in Thursday's Game 6; PWHL Minnesota works 2OT May 16, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a trio of games, beginning with PWHL Minnesota coming back from the brink of elimination to win its second straight playoff game against Toronto. After another shutout from Maddie Rooney, this one in a 1-0 double overtime win at Xcel Energy Center, the series is headed back to Toronto for a winner-takes-all Game 5. Plus a good draw for Minnesota United and another silent night for the Twins bats after three weeks of thunder.

8:00: Star Tribune Wolves reporter Chris Hine joins Rand ahead of Thursday's huge Game 6 at Target Center. Can the Wolves reverse momentum and even their series with Denver, or will they be sent into the offseason after a fourth consecutive defeat? What story lines will tell us which version of the Wolves we will see?

35:00: Who will be the QBs when the Vikings face the Falcons in December?

Timberwolves on the brink; MLB says Comcast problem will doom Bally Sports; Lynx shine May 15, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the latest in the dispute between Comcast and Diamond Sports, with MLB weighing in before a key bankruptcy hearing Wednesday with a motion that casts doubt on Diamond's ability to keep Bally Sports channels afloat without an agreement with Comcast. Where will things go from here? Plus the Twins lost to the Yankees and the Lynx won their opener on the road at Seattle.

10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to break down Minnesota's Game 5 loss at Denver, during which three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was virtually unstoppable. Can the Wolves, who are now on the brink of elimination, force a Game 7?

30:00: The Vikings will face Aaron Rodgers in London.

Big plans at QB for Gophers; Timberwolves Game 5; Myth are no longer; Lynx, PWHL, Twins May 14, 2024

Show notes

In a jam-packed episode, host Michael Rand starts with the NBA. If you wanted the playoffs to be easy, you came to the wrong place. The Wolves vs. Denver series was always destined to go at least six games, and now we will find out what Minnesota is made of in Tuesday's pivotal Game 5. Plus Rand looks ahead to the Lynx opener Tuesday and Twins vs. Yankees.

11:00: The Star Tribune's Randy Johnson joins the show from Georgia, where he is spending some time with Gophers transfer QB Max Brosmer.

29:00: Arena Football's Minnesota Myth lasted just two games, a reminder of how hard it can be to make it in a minor league. On the contrary, the PWHL is doing it the right way -- and Minnesota just got its first playoff win on Monday.

Patrick Reusse on the Timberwolves' tumble, Twins' surge and John Anderson May 13, 2024

Show notes

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started, of course, with a massively disappointing set of home games for the Wolves, who came back from Denver up 2-0 in their playoff series but head back to Denver tied 2-2 after a pair of defeats at Target Center. What went wrong, and what should we expect in Game 5 Tuesday?

17:00: The Twins went 7-13 in their first 20 games and then went 17-3 in their next 20. They are just a half-game out of first place in the AL Central with the Yankees coming to town. What has sparked this turnaround -- and will fans take notice?

31:00: A proper tribute for John Anderson; will PWHL Minnesota score a goal?

Five things I got wrong about the Timberwolves; Marcus Fuller on NIL hollowing out Gophers roster May 10, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a look at five things he got wrong about the Timberwolves over the last few years. It's a good lesson in patience that Minnesota didn't do some of the things he was advocating. Plus some things Rand got right and the Twins wrapping up a great homestand with more superb starting pitching.

13:00: Star Tribune Gophers men's basketball beat writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to talk about Ben Johnson's team and another offseason defined by the transfer portal. With losses to the core of the roster -- moves influenced by name, image and likeness rules -- how will Minnesota look next season and how are coaches expected to build teams these days?

34:00: Caitlin Clark could fill up Target Center.

Thursday Part II: Chris Hine on what's driving the red-hot Timberwolves on their playoff quest May 09, 2024

Show notes

On Part II of Thursday's Daily Delivery podcast, host Michael Rand and Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine break down the run Minnesota has been on in the playoffs.

After sweeping the Suns, the Wolves moved on to Denver and took the first two games of that series. The most impressive feat -- winning 106-80 in Game 2 without Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert -- galvanized the Wolves and brought even more positive national attention to Minnesota.

Can they sustain that in Game 3 at Target Center? And what does Denver have left in the tank?

Thursday Part I: Bally Sports North GM Randy Stephens on the dispute with Comcast May 09, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: In part one of Thursday's huge lineup, host Michael Rand looks at what has been powering the Twins, who have won 14 of their last 16 games -- including a 6-3 win on Wednesday -- to improve to 21-15 overall and just 2.5 games back in the AL Central. A big part of it is the hitting of Ryan Jeffers, who is fourth in the majors in slugging percentage. And Chris Paddack won his fourth decision in a row in Wednesday's victory.

8:00: Bally Sports North General Manager Randy Stephens joins the show to offer BSN's perspective on the pricing dispute with Comcast that led to Bally Sports channels being removed nationwide from Comcast last week. What is Stephens' message to Twins fans, and where do we go from here?

21:00: NBA teams losing their cool.

Inside the Vikings draft and J.J. McCarthy's timeline with Ben Goessling; Rudy Gobert's huge impact May 08, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand revisits the arc of Rudy Gobert's career. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards in Utah, then didn't even get a vote for the all-defense team last year in his first season with Minnesota. Now he's won DPOY for the fourth time, along with completely changing the defensive culture with the red-hot Wolves. Plus Jamal Murray gets hit with a $100,000 fine.

7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand to revisit the NFL draft and how it went from both the Vikings' perspective and that of new Falcons QB Kirk Cousins. Goessling has insights into the timeline for rookie QB J.J. McCarthy as well as thoughts on what edge rusher Dallas Turner will bring to the mix.

33:00: A boring night in the lottery for the Wild, and the WNBA gets a big travel boost.

Could you have any more fun watching the Timberwolves? + Jon Marthaler on Minnesota United May 07, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand goes deep on Monday's dominant 106-80 Timberwolves victory in Denver that gave Minnesota a commanding 2-0 lead coming back to Target Center for Friday's Game 3. The defense was suffocating even without Rudy Gobert, while the Nuggets lost their composure and seem discombobulated. This is an unfamiliar feeling for Minnesota sports fans, and the joy is contagious.

14:00: Jon Marthaler joins the show to break down Minnesota United's strong start. Whether it's tactical changes, strong defense or good vibes, something feels different about the Loons. And they're doing it without Emanuel Reynoso, who is out of sight, out of mind at the moment. Come for the soccer talk, stay for the mid-2000s Gophers basketball references.

34:00: Sorting out how Twins fans are dealing with Comcast dropping Bally Sports North.

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