Questions about the Minnesota Timberwolves’ depth were there before the season started, and they’re still hanging around now. But the early answer from the bench has been better than expected, even with the lineup getting shuffled by Anthony Edwards’ absence.
Minnesota has opened 8-3, and the second unit has played a real part in that start. The numbers don’t jump off the page at first glance: the Wolves are averaging 36.5 points per game from their bench, which ranks 17th in the league, and their reserves are shooting 45.2 percent from the field, good for 10th.
Middle of the pack, sure. But in context, that’s a positive sign for a team that has had to piece together scoring from the second group.
That’s because this wasn’t supposed to be a deep bench in the traditional sense. In 2025-26, Minnesota averaged 35.0 bench points per game, 21st in the NBA.
The year before, it was the same number, 35.0, and that ranked 19th. Those teams had Naz Reid giving them the kind of nightly stability most benches never get.
This season, the early assumption was that Ayo Dosunmu would be the one dependable reserve.
Instead, Dosunmu has spent the last seven games in the starting lineup with Edwards out. Even with that change, the bench has held up. Over those seven games, Minnesota’s reserves have averaged 34.9 points per game, barely any different from the season mark.
There have been some useful contributions along the way. Trey Lyles has been a nice surprise after a one-year NBA hiatus.
Joan Beringer, who turned 20 yesterday, November 11, has had some uneven nights, but he’s also put up two 12-point games. Bones Hyland started slowly, then found a rhythm, reaching double figures in five of the last seven games.
The group may still have another gear to hit. Edwards’ return is still TBD, and when he’s back, Dosunmu will move to the bench again as long as the regular starters are all available.
There’s also optimism that Donte DiVincenzo will return at some point this season after the torn Achilles he suffered in last season’s playoffs. He probably won’t be a starter again, but he would give the second unit a high-volume 3-point threat.
For now, Chris Finch has been using a 10-man rotation, something he didn’t often do over the last couple of years, even when the roster was fully healthy. That creates a later decision point about who gets squeezed out once Edwards, and maybe DiVincenzo, are back. But right now, the bigger takeaway is simple: the bench concerns that followed Minnesota into the season haven’t really shown up, and the Wolves have enough depth to keep winning without Ant-Man.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Defense Is Forcing A Bigger Conversation About Their Ceiling
The early shape of Minnesotas season has been defined by a defense that has given opponents very little room to breathe. Even with Anthony Edwards missing several games, the Timberwolves have built an 8-3 start on the back of a unit that has consistently bothered ballhandlers, closed off clean looks from deep and made every possession feel like a grind.
What makes it more interesting is that this is no longer just about surviving while the offense finds its footing. The Wolves have been good enough on that end to force a bigger conversation about how high their ceiling can go if the defensive standard holds, especially once the roster is whole and the attack catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Ayo Dosunmu Explained Whats Fueling His Timberwolves Surge
Ayo Dosunmu has settled into a much bigger role since Anthony Edwards went down with a knee injury, and the early returns have been hard to miss. The guard has brought a sharper scoring punch to the starting lineup, while also giving Minnesota a steadier decision-making presence. Over the last stretch, his shot-making has been efficient enough to stand out even in a rotation that has had to adjust on the fly.
Chris Finch and Dosunmu both pointed to the same broader theme behind the uptick: the way the offense is opening up around him. With Rudy Gobert setting strong screens and helping create cleaner looks at the rim, Dosunmu has found more room to operate and more chances to attack in rhythm. For a Timberwolves team trying to keep its footing through an injury-driven shuffle, that kind of fit matters, even if the full picture of how long it lasts is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Make A Frontcourt Move With Anthony Edwards Still Out
With Anthony Edwards still sidelined by a knee injury, the Timberwolves have added some frontcourt depth as they try to keep their strong start rolling. Minnesota brought in Johni Broome on a two-way deal, a move that gives the club another developmental big while it waits for one of its top scorers to return.
Broome arrives with some recent NBA experience after spending time with the 76ers and Clippers, and he was the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. For a Wolves team trying to hold steady through Edwards absence, the addition is a low-risk way to shore up the roster and see whether Broome can carve out a role while the lineup is in flux. [Read more 🡒]