The Minnesota Timberwolves came into their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks riding high. They’d just notched a hard-fought win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game that showcased Anthony Edwards in full takeover mode and featured head coach Chris Finch’s fiery ejection-a moment that seemed to galvanize the team.
That edge, that energy, carried into the early moments against Milwaukee. But it didn’t last.
Momentum has a way of vanishing in an instant in the NBA. And that’s exactly what happened when Jaden McDaniels went down.
There was no warning. McDaniels wasn’t on any injury report.
The Timberwolves were essentially at full strength, minus a couple of G League assignments. But midway through the first quarter, while chasing down a loose ball after a turnover, McDaniels reached awkwardly, clutched his left side, and immediately exited the game.
It didn’t look like much at first-just a hustle play gone slightly sideways-but his reaction told a different story.
He went straight to the locker room. Moments later, the team made it official: left hip pain.
He was ruled out for the rest of the night. Just like that, the Wolves were down a key piece.
And make no mistake-McDaniels matters. He’s not the guy filling up highlight reels or dominating the box score, but he’s the one doing the dirty work.
He guards the opposing team's best wing. He gives the Timberwolves lineup flexibility.
He allows the stars to shine without having to shoulder every defensive assignment. When he left, the ripple effects were immediate.
Matchups got tighter. Rotations got shorter.
The Bucks, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor, sensed the shift. They took control, building a 60-48 lead by halftime. Minnesota had to adjust on the fly, and against a team as deep and disciplined as Milwaukee, that’s a tough ask.
Context here is key. The Timberwolves entered the night 18-10, sixth in the Western Conference, and playing with real rhythm.
That win over the Thunder wasn’t just another notch in the standings-it was a statement. They showed toughness.
They showed identity. They looked like a team figuring out who they are.
But this moment tested that.
Injuries are part of the game, sure. But when they hit unexpectedly-when a player like McDaniels goes down without any prior sign-it can rattle a team.
The Bucks didn’t blink. They played like a team that’s been there before.
The Timberwolves? They had to scramble.
Now the question becomes: how serious is this? Is it a short-term setback or something more?
As of now, there’s no clarity. Just the reality that in one awkward movement, the tone of the night-and maybe more-completely changed.
The Timberwolves have been one of the season’s early surprises, a team blending youth, defense, and a rising star in Edwards into something worth watching. But this is where the league tests you. It’s not just about the wins when things are going well-it’s how you respond when the unexpected hits.
And that response, with or without McDaniels in the short term, will say a lot about where this team is headed.