The Timberwolves are already living comfortably in the league’s upper tier from deep, and the numbers say there’s more coming if this roster gets whole again.
Through 11 games, Minnesota ranks ninth in the NBA with 14.5 made 3-pointers per game and sits eighth in accuracy at 37.3 percent. That mark is only 0.3 percent behind the sixth-ranked Phoenix Suns. Even with Anthony Edwards missing seven games, the Wolves have still held up well from long range, posting 13.9 made 3s per game and shooting 35.8 percent.
That’s notable on its own. It gets a lot more interesting when you start layering in the pieces Minnesota has been without.
Edwards was firing away at 11.3 3-point attempts per game through the first four contests before arthroscopic knee surgery sidelined him. When he’s back, that number probably won’t stay quite that high, but it also doesn’t figure to fall off much.
Donte DiVincenzo, meanwhile, would give the Wolves another major perimeter piece if he returns from his torn Achilles. Most of his shot attempts have come from beyond the arc, and that may be even more true at first as he works his way back into game shape.
Then there’s the rest of the group that makes this look like a team built to launch from everywhere.
Ayo Dosunmu has long looked like a player who could take on a bigger 3-point load. He shot 43.9 percent from deep last season with the Wolves and Chicago Bulls, and he’s opened this season at 46.7 percent over the first 11 games. Minnesota still wants him attacking the basket, but pushing his 3-point volume from four attempts a night to five or six feels well within reach.
Add Bones Hyland, Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaden McDaniels, Trey Lyles, and Jonathan Kuminga, and the picture gets even louder. Outside of Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer, everybody on the roster can step behind the line.
Minnesota opened the season by launching 50 3-pointers in the opener, but hasn’t hit that number again since. Last season, the Wolves only reached 50-plus attempts once. If they get back to full strength, though, that kind of volume should show up more often before the regular season ends.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Hot Start Is Silencing Two Major Offseason Doubts
The Timberwolves spent the offseason inviting questions, reshaping the roster by moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid while bringing in LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. Early returns have given the front office some cover, at least for now. Minnesota has stressed rebounding from the start, and the effort has shown up in the way Rudy Gobert, Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels have all helped steady the group while the team keeps leaning on a productive ten-man rotation through injuries.
LaMelo Balls fit has been especially important with Anthony Edwards sidelined, because Minnesota needed someone to handle more of the offense without letting the rest of the structure fall apart. So far, the Wolves have managed to stay balanced while sorting out a new hierarchy, and the early chemistry is doing a lot to quiet the concern that the offseason changes would leave them too thin on the glass or too dependent on one star. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves May Have Found Their Formula Without Anthony Edwards
The Timberwolves have pieced together a surprisingly sturdy stretch without Anthony Edwards, winning five of seven and using a four-game run to keep momentum rolling. A big reason has been LaMelo Ball settling into a more aggressive rhythm, giving Minnesota a different kind of offensive engine while Edwards is out.
What stands out most is how much cleaner Balls game has looked as the absence has gone on. His scoring has ticked up, his shot-making has become more efficient, and he has done a better job handling defensive pressure without getting bogged down by foul trouble, all of which has helped the Wolves stay organized and productive on both ends. If this version of Ball keeps showing up, Minnesota may have found a workable formula for the short term, even if the larger question around Edwards remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Clark Is Making Minnesotas Rotation Look Very Different
Jaylen Clarks rise has become one of the more interesting side stories in Minnesota this season, and it has come at a time when the Timberwolves have had to rethink their rotation on the fly. The young wing, who was extended to a three-year contract this summer, has looked far more comfortable offensively, with his three-point shot and overall confidence taking a noticeable step forward. What has stood out is the consistency, not just in games but in practice, where he has carried himself like a player who belongs in a bigger role.
The opportunity opened up when Anthony Edwards knee injury forced Minnesota to lean harder on its depth, and Clark has responded by giving the staff something to consider beyond just short-term cover. His increased minutes have helped accelerate his development, especially on the offensive end, where he no longer looks like a player trying to find his footing. For a Timberwolves team trying to stay steady through a changing lineup, Clarks emergence has made the rotation look a little different than anyone expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]