After a 6-6 start to the season, Timberwolves fans were starting to worry. Some still are, and rightfully so. They lost three games in a row to far weaker teams. Mike Conley got off to a horrendous start, as did Donte DiVincenzo. Julius Randle seemed reluctant to be an aggressive scorer for his new team, and the defense looked nothing like it did last year when Minnesota boasted the most outstanding defense in the league. Turnovers were causing coaches, players, and fans alike to clench their fists and wonder why this team isn’t working. Well, I’m here to tell you that the Minnesota Timberwolves are back, and the rest of the NBA should be sweating bullets after their last two games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves Have Officially Arrived
Why would I say that after just two games? Didn’t they almost lose both of them?
The answer is yes, the Timberwolves did come dangerously close to blowing a 20-point lead in Sacramento and were expected to beat Phoenix by more. However, you need to look closer at those games to see what made those two wins special. In both those games, one single player managed to thwart all efforts to contain him and have huge scoring performances. De’Aaron Fox scored 60 points for the Kings, and Devin Booker scored 44 points for the Suns. Looking at the film, the on-ball defense against both Fox and Booker was actually pretty good. Sometimes, you catch a guy on his best night, and there’s just nothing you can do to stop him. That is what happened in both of those games.
Both contests gave Wolves fans plenty to be excited about, especially down the stretch. Here are two positive indicators from each game and what it means for the season going forward.
November 15 vs. Kings (130-126)
Entire Team Contributed
In a few of Minnesota’s games this season, someone has had to carry the offensive for the entire game. For example, Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards combined for 65 of the team’s 117 points the first time they played the Kings. In the rematch, though, everyone played a part; seven players were double-digit scorers. What’s more, the team defense looked much more familiar as the Timberwolves had 11 steals and only allowed one player not named Domantas Sabonis or De’Aaron Fox to score double-digits (Keegan Murray scored 14 points on 6/15 shooting). The starters had to play extended minutes in overtime and still outlasted Fox and company to get a win. It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win.
Anthony Edwards Came Through in the Clutch
Even though it seemed like Sacramento was getting points just about every possession, Ant was keeping the ship afloat. Along with his scoring, he made the right play every time. The box score will not show it (only two assists), but it seemed like he would have had a double-double if we counted hockey assists. After Edwards made the first pass, his teammates could swing the rock and get open looks. Some of those looks didn’t go in, but it was enough to get a win. When he was attacking, he was almost unstoppable. He had two three-point plays that helped send the game to overtime and had seven points on perfect shooting in the extra period. Edwards is starting to make a case for Clutch Player of the Year, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
November 17 vs. Suns (120-117)
New Additions Were Spectacular
Finally, the Timberwolves have been waiting for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to bring the energy, and they did it in a big way against Phoenix. DiVincenzo had 15 points (5/11 shooting) and three assists in 26 minutes. Randle, meanwhile, scored 35 points on 11/20 shooting and 8/9 from the free throw line, added seven assists, and sank a game-winning three-pointer after making Josh Okogie fall. This was certainly both players’ signature performance of the young season, and it was awesome to see Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards embrace Randle while he mocked Devin Booker’s “where’s the foul” pose. Donte’s plus/minus was +10, and Randle’s was +16 in a game where they had to fight back from a double-digit halftime deficit. This game could act as the turning point for both the Wolves and their new pieces.
Wolves Dominated the Turnover Battle
Turnovers had plagued Minnesota for many of their games, particularly in losses. Notably, Minnesota’s 16.2 turnovers per game ranks within the bottom 10 in the league. Additionally, when they lose, they usually struggle to force turnovers and end up giving it away themselves in crucial moments. In this game, though, the Timberwolves only had 14 turnovers, while Phoenix gave it away 21 times. Another key problem has been defense after a giveaway; in other words, points off turnovers. On Sunday, Minnesota scored 32 points off Phoenix turnovers, compared to only 16 points by the Suns. Winning the turnover battle will help the Timberwolves regain their as contenders. The offense and defense are both becoming more solid, which is something Chris Finch needs to see from his crew.
Last Word on the Minnesota Timberwolves
Two good games usually don’t say much about a team, but considering the Timberwolves’ success last year and the nature of the victories, these were not just any two games. These were two electrifying wins that stabilized the players and reminded them that they are still legit contenders. This group looks more confident than ever, and a few days of rest will only do more good. The upcoming schedule gets very difficult, and Minnesota intends to exceed the high expectations facing them.
