The Minnesota Timberwolves have managed to keep their head above water without Anthony Edwards, and LaMelo Ball has been a major reason why.
Minnesota is 4-2 in that stretch, and Ball hasn’t simply stepped in as a volume gunner and taken over every possession. Over the past six games, he ranks third on the team in field goal attempts. Even so, his production has climbed to 19.7 points, 6 assists and 4.2 rebounds a night, with shooting splits of 44.8/38.9/90.5.
What’s really driving the Wolves’ success is the way Ball bends the defense. He can hit difficult shots from deep even with tight coverage draped all over him, and that threat gives him the chance to explode as a scorer on any night. Just as important, it forces defenses to commit extra attention to him, which opens the floor for everyone else.
That’s where Ball has made the biggest impact. His assists tell part of the story, but they don’t capture everything he’s doing.
He’s constantly reading the floor, finding teammates and creating clean looks. Beyond that, his gravity as a shooter and his comfort playing off the ball have made life easier for the rest of the offense.
This run without Edwards has shown off the best parts of Ball’s game. He is best as a second option, and the source notes that he can struggle with physicality and isn’t as versatile a scorer as a true first option needs to be.
Those issues have shown up at times in Edwards’ absence. Still, Ball has handled the expanded role well enough to keep the offense moving.
Minnesota has leaned into a balanced attack without Edwards. Six players are averaging double figures, and the shot distribution has been spread around Ball at 14.5 attempts, Ayo Dosunmu at 16.2, Jaden McDaniels at 15.3 and Jonathan Kuminga at 11.7. Ball’s willingness to involve his teammates and work without the ball has helped make that possible.
The creation from McDaniels and Ayo has been especially important. Ayo has brought a rim pressure element that gives the backcourt a different look from Ball, while McDaniels has attacked the basket and also leaned on his pull-up mid-range game.
Ball has still been the engine behind those opportunities. His scoring threat opens lanes, and his playmaking helps turn those openings into real advantages.
When Edwards returns, Minnesota will have its clear No. 1 scoring option again. But Ball’s scoring punch, offensive gravity and passing will still matter.
For now, they’re helping the Timberwolves stay afloat.
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Ball has responded with a more assertive stretch since the injury, and the Timberwolves have managed a 4-2 record in Edwards' absence as they head into an eight-game homestand. The bigger question now is whether that expanded role becomes a temporary fix or something Minnesota can keep leaning on once the schedule settles in. [Read more 🡒]
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Even with modest counting numbers, Lyles has stood out for the things that tend to matter over the long haul: rebounding, smart spacing and a willingness to play within the flow of the offense. His versatility has given Minnesota more lineup flexibility, and his presence has quietly become part of why the Wolves have been so effective on the glass. [Read more 🡒]
Ayo Dosunmu Is Suddenly Carrying A Bigger Timberwolves Burden
Anthony Edwards absence has forced Minnesota to reshuffle its backcourt, and Ayo Dosunmu has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the opportunity. Since moving into the starting lineup, he has given the Timberwolves a steadier scoring presence and added useful production across the board, helping keep the team afloat while one of its top engines is sidelined.
The early returns have been encouraging enough to change the feel of the rotation, with Minnesota going 5-2 since Edwards went down. Dosunmus expanded role has mattered not just because of the points he is providing, but because he has helped stabilize the offense during a stretch when the Wolves needed someone to absorb more responsibility and keep the team on track. [Read more 🡒]