The Minnesota Timberwolves have opened 3-0, and the biggest reason they’ve looked so sturdy hasn’t just been the names everyone expected to lead the way. It’s been the depth.
Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels have naturally drawn the spotlight, but Minnesota’s supporting cast has been the more striking story so far. That showed up especially two games ago in the win over the Orlando Magic, when the stars had a rough night offensively and it still didn’t change the outcome. The Wolves didn’t just survive that kind of performance - they blew the game open anyway.
Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Trey Lyles have been driving that early-season surge with performances that have gone well beyond ordinary bench production. They’ve settled into their jobs cleanly, and in a few spots, they’ve done far more than anyone likely expected. For a team that came in with real questions about its depth, that trio has helped give Minnesota what looks like a very solid top eight.
Jonathan Kuminga, though technically a starter, has fit right into that broader theme. He’s averaging 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 48/63.6(!!)
/50 splits. There were legitimate spacing concerns around him entering the offseason, but he’s been knocking down corner 3-pointers like they’re routine.
Dosunmu has been just as important off the bench. He’s putting up 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with 51.6/42.9/66.7 splits, and against Orlando he came close to a triple-double in reserve minutes.
He ended that game with 14 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Shannon, the other Fighting Illini product in the mix, has been even more efficient: 12.7 points, three rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 57.1/50/63.6 shooting.
Even with that list, Dosunmu has been the weakest outside shooter of the bunch, and he’s still comfortably above 40 percent from deep. Lyles has also carved out a meaningful role after entering the season with an uncertain place in the rotation. His numbers don’t leap off the page, but his value has shown up in the minutes that matter.
Joan Beringer has had some rough stretches, but he’s also flashed the kind of upside that stood out, especially in the game against the Magic. If that keeps trending in the right direction, Minnesota’s bench only gets stronger.
No one should expect these shooting numbers to hold at these levels forever. Kuminga probably won’t keep hitting 63.6 percent from three, and Shannon probably won’t stay at 50 percent either. But the early production from this group has already mattered plenty in getting the Wolves through this opening run.
Winning three straight against three playoff-caliber Eastern Conference teams is no small thing. And with Edwards' 45-point outburst in the first game standing as the lone truly massive star turn so far, Minnesota has still found a way to keep rolling.
The bigger takeaway is simple: this roster is deeper than most people thought, and the connectivity and chemistry already look strong enough to suggest this start may just be the beginning.
In Other News...
Anthony Edwards Has The Wolves Drawing Real Attention Already
Before the home opener, the Timberwolves were already drawing attention from the other sideline, with Raptors coach Darko Rajakovi making it clear he sees Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball as part of a young backcourt that can grab a leaguewide audience. He also pointed to the overall talent on Minnesotas roster, a sign the Wolves are starting to look like a team opponents are studying closely instead of simply preparing for.
Toronto arrives shorthanded, too, after ruling out Kawhi Leonard because of knee swelling, which only sharpens the backdrop for a game that has a little more weight than a typical early-season matchup. For Minnesota, this is the kind of night that can help confirm the growing buzz around Edwards and the group around him, especially when an opposing coach is already talking about the matchup in flattering terms. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Showed Off A New Strength In A Blowout Win
The Timberwolves first home game of the season came with the kind of cushion teams usually earn only after theyve built a real identity. Minnesota rolled past Toronto by 23 points, making it three straight wins by 20 or more and offering another reminder that this group can now overwhelm opponents in stretches even when the rotation is forced to shift around. With LaMelo Ball limited by foul trouble, the Wolves leaned deeper into the bench, and players like Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. helped keep the pressure on.
There was still a flaw tucked inside the blowout, though, and its one Minnesota will want to clean up as the schedule tightens. The offense kept humming, but the defensive rebounding lagged, especially in minutes when Rudy Gobert sat, allowing Toronto extra chances it probably never should have had in a game that lopsided. For a team playing this well, those empty possessions are the kind of detail that can matter a lot more when the margin shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Is Giving Wolves Fans One Reason To Worry
Anthony Edwards helped keep Minnesota unbeaten with a 26-point night in a 117-94 win over the Raptors, but the bigger takeaway for Timberwolves fans came from the way he moved through the game. Edwards showed signs of discomfort with his right knee, a reminder that even in a strong early start, health remains the one issue that can change the feel of this team in a hurry.
The Wolves have reason to be cautious with their star after the clubs president, Tim Connelly, addressed the knee situation this offseason and made clear surgery was not in the plan. Still, Edwards status is now something to watch as Minnesota heads into its next game, because the margin for error gets thinner fast when your best player is already dealing with injury management this early. [Read more 🡒]