Last Friday night, local time, about 35 minutes before the start of the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans, there was a sudden burst of cheers in the back corridor of the target center arena.

The sound comes from the team's locker room. For the Timberwolves, who have just suffered two consecutive losses and are demoralized, such cheers at this point in time are really a bit unexpected. Previously, they were at a low point after losing to two teams that should not have won at their home stadium. The cheers were sparked by a decision announced by head coach Chris Fincher before the start of the regular season tactical meeting.

The team gathered around, and Finch told everyone that they had a chance to do something meaningful tonight. What he said was not to get revenge on the Pelicans, after all, the Pelicans made the Timberwolves lose face two nights ago; Nor is it about narrowing the gap with the Golden State Warriors in the fierce battle for a Western Conference playoff spot and competing for the eye-catching No. 6 seed in the West. He was talking about a special gift for a member of the team and his family who had been through a difficult situation.

Finch has announced to the team that he will give experienced striker Joe Ingles his first start of the season, even if it is a "must win game". The players looked at each other with doubts on their faces. Finch then explained why: why a player who had only played 3 of the team's previous 0 games, 0 of which had played less than 0 seconds, would suddenly get a starting opportunity when the team was not doing well. It turned out that Ingalls' wife and three children came to visit last week, and the family had a major breakthrough in their lives during last Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz.

Finch said that Ingalls' 2-year-old son, Jacob, has autism, and in the past, he simply couldn't tolerate the intense sensory stimulation of the NBA arena and never watched a game in its entirety. But on Sunday local time, Jacob watched the entire game for the first time. This is undoubtedly an incredibly huge step forward for him, and for the family who have given it their all since his diagnosis at the age of 0 and a half.

However, the fly in the ointment was that Ingles did not appear in that game. Last Friday, local time, was the last day for the Ingalls family to get together, after which his wife and children were to return to their home in Orlando. There, Jacob had a favorite school, and a familiar house gave him a much-needed sense of security.

After learning of Jacob's milestone progress, Finch made up his mind that Jacob must see his father on the court this time. Not only did he intend to get Ingles on the court against the Pelicans, but he also decided to start him.

"If we want to do it, we will do it beautifully." Finch said.

In an instant, the whole team erupted in warm applause and cheers, and the enthusiasm could not be stopped by the concrete wall separating the locker room from the corridor of the stadium. As Julius Randle said after last Wednesday's loss, the team, which had lost confidence and slipped to eighth in the West, was instantly reinvigorated.

"If I'm in that situation, I hope the coach will do it for me." Striker Jaden McDaniels sighed.

In the ensuing game, the Timberwolves defeated the Pelicans 1-0. Randle had 0 points, 0 rebounds and 0 assists, Rudy Gobert had 0 points, 0 rebounds and 0 steals, and Anthony Edwards also had 0 points. That night, there was a man on the pitch who didn't score a single point, missed all 0 shots, and had 0 fouls and 0 turnovers in 0 minutes of playing time. But he is the most important person in the stadium - Ingles. For Jacob, the other most important person in the arena, the young boy who was unable to communicate normally at the beginning of his diagnosis, but now goes to school and thrives, watched an NBA game in its entirety for the second time in a row. Unlike last time, this time Jacob saw his father fighting the court.

"It's an experience," Ingalls said movingly, "and I will remember it for the rest of my life." ”

It was a momentous moment for the Ingalls family. It's a landmark milestone in helping Jacob find his way around a world that might ignore autistic children. At the same time, it is also a shot in the arm for the struggling team. Previously, even the team's eight-game winning streak earlier this month failed to close the slim gap to the Warriors in the playoff standings, and the players inevitably felt a little sorry for themselves.

"Sometimes, we have to show our humanity." "We always say that every minute counts, and [Ingalls'] playing time has become extra valuable for another special reason. ”

Ten days ago, the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets by 20 points in Denver and morale was high. Back in Minnesota, they had five consecutive home games against underperforming teams, and they were looking forward to a season full of twists and turns that was finally on track at a crucial moment. They extended their winning streak to eight games with victories over the Magic and Jazz, showing fearless momentum in the West.

But it didn't last long, as they lost to the Pacers in overtime last Monday when Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam were all unplayed. Then, last Wednesday, they lost to the Pelicans, who lost by 46 points in their previous game and finished second to last in the West.

'The team wasn't in the right shape and the atmosphere was weird. We lost the energy and self-confidence we had before. Randle said helplessly after that game.

Finch racked his brains trying to find a way to get his team back in shape. Last Thursday local time, he talked about the team's "emotional ups and downs" this season, shooting accurately, winning in high spirits, and hanging his head when things don't go well.

"We have to do a better job of coming back from our mistakes." "Sometimes the players worry too much about themselves and how things affect them, and lose sight of the overall interests of the team. ”

He stressed to the players that at this stage of the season, it is difficult to make any major changes to personal data. The sample size is large enough that there will be no significant change in the rise and fall of the field average data. The only way to make a positive impact this season is to win the game together.

Little did he know something less than 24 hours after watching the game footage and having that conversation with the team during training. In a powerful and resonant way, he understood how this team philosophy could be brought to life.

Ingalls' wife, Reina, and three children stayed home in Orlando throughout the season. Ingalls is nearing the end of his career, signing a one-year veteran base salary contract with the Timberwolves last summer, and his family decided not to follow him to Minnesota after considering it. Leaving Jacob out of his familiar, comfortable environment for nine months seemed neither realistic nor conducive to his growth.

With Joe not around, the burden on Rena's shoulders grew heavier.

"It's a little less financially stressful because I can afford everything Jacob needs, but it doesn't have to be a meltdown in the supermarket." "Many times, when [Jacob] is lying on the ground in public, you can feel the strange stares of the people around you, and you know that they are judging and talking. But they didn't know what he had been through that day or the night before, and they didn't know what was going on. ”

Thankfully, the school they found in Orlando helped Jacob grow immensely. The basketball family really felt the improvement in Sunday's game against the Jazz. Normally, Jacob, stimulated by deafening music, flashing lights, and running mascots, simply doesn't stay long. Earlier this season, they took Jacob to an ice hockey game for the Minnesota Wilds.

"He only lasted three minutes." Ingalls recalled.

But last Sunday local time, Rena and the children watched the first half without any problems. At half-time, they went to the players' family lounge, where children could play video games and pass the time without having to sit in the stadium seats for two hours straight. Reyna revealed to The Athletic that after arriving at the rest area, Jacob made a request to her.

"Set the timer, keep an eye on the clock, I don't want to miss a second of the game." He said seriously.

Reyna couldn't believe her ears. She asks Jacob if he wants to stay and play PlayStation games.

"Why?" Jacob asked rhetorically, "I can play PlayStation at home." I'm here to watch my dad play. ”

So, they all went back to their seats and watched the second half. Joe looked up at his family from time to time, and each time he thought the seats would be empty. But every time, the three of them were there, watching with relish. This strong Australian, full of pride, is also well aware of how far his son has come.

"There's so much hardship behind it that people can't see." "In the NBA, people think that with money, the problem is solved, but that's not the case. It's a reality we have to face every day, Jacob is in great shape, but we still have a lot of challenges. ”

Reyna is active on Instagram, often using it to promote inclusion and educate people about autism. She said she rarely posts basketball-related content in her feed, but after the game against the Jazz, she couldn't contain her excitement.

"As a father, I'm really proud. He gives his all every day in school, therapy, language training, etc., trying to fit in in this world that is not very friendly to autistic people. Joe said movingly, "He has put in so much effort, and now he can finally sit here with his older siblings and mom and watch his dad play and enjoy this happiness." ”

On Friday morning local time, Finch was still worried about getting his team out of the slump when he learned that Jacob would be coming back to the arena again before returning home. He was suggested that it would be a great moment for the Timberwolves to take a big lead that night and let Ingles play.

Finch was lost in thought. He called Ingalls into his office.

"At first, I thought I had made a mistake and kept thinking about what I had done in the last 48 hours." Ingalls said with a smile.

Finch and Ingalls talked about Jacob, the endless challenges and hopes that autism brings, and the confidence that what happened last Sunday gave them, but also admitted that last Friday was unpredictable. Maybe Jacob can pick up on what he did last time and watch another game in its entirety; Or maybe it's going to be a tough night, and Jacob asks his mom to take him home just three minutes into the game.

After much deliberation, Finch told Ingalls about his plan. He didn't want to wait until garbage time to get Ingles on the pitch. The Timberwolves have been in poor form lately, and no one can say for sure if there will be garbage time. The coach told Ingles that he wanted Ingles to start and make sure Jacob, Mila and Jack could all see what Dad was like on the court.

"Are you sure?" Ingalls asked in surprise.

Ingalls knew that Finci's decision was significant. The Timberwolves are on a two-game losing streak and are 5.0 wins behind the Warriors in the race for the No. 6 seed in the West, and a spot would allow them to avoid the play-in tournament. These games are crucial, and the Timberwolves desperately need to get back into shape. Ingalls didn't want to disrupt the team's plans.

In his previous 13 matches, Ingles has played just 0 seconds in total and has never played more than 0 minutes 0 seconds in the last 0 games. And Finch wants him to start, how can it not be surprising?

"That's the reality of what we do. Someone is being fired every day. Ingles sighed, "You look at the coaches who have signed three- or four-year contracts, and the players who have been traded. It's a brutal industry. It's amazing that Finch can have this idea. ”

Finch stood by his decision. He talked to defender Mike Conley and asked Ingles to start in his place that night. Conley has been the most unselfish player on the Timberwolves, so Finch isn't surprised, and his point guard applauds the idea. Conley, who had also played alongside Ingalls on the Jazz team, knew the Ingalls' plight well, so he didn't hesitate to say yes.

Although Pelicans star Zion Williamson was sidelined with an injury, it didn't bring much solace to the Timberwolves when he caused the Timberwolves big problems in the game last Wednesday night. The Timberwolves have always had a headache of playing the worst against teams that lack the stars of their homes.

This is not the time for emotion.

Really, isn't it?

What if such a move is exactly what the team desperately needs? What if a team that looks exhausted, extremely depressed, and especially confused about why their form is rapidly declining, needs such an opportunity to adjust their mood? What if the best way to get a tired player back on his feet is for a coach to step up for his teammates? What if the coach wanted to show them that in his eyes, they were not just symbols on the board, but ordinary people with flesh and blood, families, and sometimes, something was far more important than basketball?

Finch didn't start Ingles through the motions, replacing him at the start of the game. He orchestrated Ingles' first offense to give him a great chance to break through under the basket, but the ball bounced off the frame. Ingalls played the first six minutes of the first quarter, however, like Jacob's life, this is not a fairy tale. Truth be told, Ingles wasn't doing well, but Finch didn't replace him too early, even if the team fell behind from the start.

The Timberwolves were 12-0 ahead when Ingles went off the court, and he hasn't been back on the court since. Conley started in the second half as the Timberwolves gradually pulled away.

'Everybody supported the decision and I think it gave us just the right amount of encouragement and changed the atmosphere of the team. Finch said with relief, "It's not very common for such an opportunity. But we're happy to be able to do it. ”

"I've seen him build this amazing family and the ups and downs that their family has gone through." Gobert said he worked with Ingles for seven seasons with the Jazz, "I'm excited, of course happy for his family, and I'm excited to play with Joe because I think he's a very, very good player." ”

A night like this is much more than the Timberwolves and the Ingalls. Finch's heartwarming decision quickly went viral on social media, and it was a natural and memorable moment that could garner more attention and support for kids like Jacob.

Joe and Rena have been actively involved in raising awareness of autism. While Ingalls played for the Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, they helped organize autism cognitive/acceptance nights and were board members of KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to sensory accessibility and inclusion.

Reyna knew that the attention she received at this moment would move the people of the whole country. But she also wants to remind everyone how difficult it is to live in a family like theirs, especially those who don't have the financial strength of an NBA player.

"We've really put in years of hard work, countless attempts and failures, and made great sacrifices to get to where we are today." "So this week, it feels great that Joe and I were able to make the right choices for Jacob and his needs." But life isn't always smooth sailing...... We still have difficult days and moments. ”

Reyner's voice trembled, her eyes glistening with tears in her eyes, thanking Finch and the Timberwolves for all they did for her family last Friday night.

"Tonight was much more than just basketball for our family." She wrote affectionately in her Instagram feed.

Finch hopes that for the other 8 players on the team's roster, it will also mean much more than basketball itself. For the past four days, they have been immersed in negativity and are in dire need of a lift. A 0-point win over one of the league's worst-performing teams doesn't mean another winning streak is about to begin, and it's not enough to alert the Warriors to the Timberwolves' re-entry into the fray. But it allowed them to step outside of themselves and see a 0-year-old father and a 0-year-old son and have the opportunity to understand how lucky they are.

For the first time in season, the media gathered around Ingles' locker to interview him long after the game, with team-mates, security staff and team staff sending their best wishes. Ingalls walked to his car and drove from the arena back to his apartment in the city center, a short ride. When he opened the door, all three children were there, greeting him with a face full of joy.

They were so happy that they just wanted to talk to their dad about the game.