Bones Hyland Is Earning His Minutes in Minnesota-And Making Them Count
When the Minnesota Timberwolves brought back Bones Hyland late in the offseason, it barely registered on the radar. After all, Hyland had only seen the court four times for Minnesota last year after signing a two-way deal in February. His stints with the Nuggets and Clippers had ended with him slipping out of the rotation, and it wasn’t exactly clear where he fit in the Wolves’ plans.
But here we are, deep into the season, and Bones isn’t just sticking around-he’s in the mix. Not as a mop-up guy.
Not riding the bench. He’s firmly in the rotation, and more importantly, he’s making the most of the opportunity.
Ayo Arrives, But Bones Holds His Ground
Last week, Minnesota added Ayo Dosunmu in a move that looked like it might push Hyland to the fringes. Dosunmu, 26, was brought in to solidify the bench and provide a steady hand at the backup point guard spot.
A logical move. But it hasn’t come at Bones’ expense.
In the two games since Dosunmu joined the Wolves, he’s logged 55 minutes-a healthy workload. But Hyland?
He’s right there too, playing 35 minutes across those contests. That’s 17.5 minutes per game, actually above the 16.8 he’s averaged since the calendar flipped to 2026.
And these aren’t just garbage time cameos. Hyland has played close to 20 minutes in the first halves of both games. That’s a clear sign from head coach Chris Finch that Bones is more than just a placeholder-he’s part of the plan.
Efficiency and Confidence
What’s helped Hyland keep his spot is simple: he’s playing well. The 6-foot-2 guard looked sharp in Monday’s blowout win over a depleted Atlanta squad, going 5-for-7 from the field.
He was 4-of-8 in the previous game against the Clippers and has hit 5-of-10 from beyond the arc across the two contests. Add in seven assists to just two turnovers, and you’ve got a player who's not just surviving-he’s thriving.
There’s no sign of nerves or hesitation in his game right now. He’s playing with the confidence of someone who knows his role is earned, not given. That kind of poise is exactly what the Wolves need from their bench unit.
The Conley Question
Of course, the rotation picture could get more complicated soon. Mike Conley, who was part of Finch’s rotation all season before being traded last week, is expected to return. And while Conley’s production had been underwhelming at times-something fans weren’t shy about pointing out-he’s still a veteran presence with a long track record.
But if Finch turns back to Conley at the expense of Hyland, it could raise some eyebrows. Bones has been inconsistent in the past, sure.
But right now? The Wolves are outscoring opponents by 3.6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor.
That’s not noise-that’s impact.
Writing His Comeback Story
Hyland’s resurgence has been one of the more under-the-radar storylines in a Timberwolves season filled with big-picture narratives. His re-signing didn’t come with much buzz, but his play is starting to generate it. With 27 regular season games left-and the playoffs looming-Bones has a real shot to carve out a lasting role in Minnesota’s rotation.
He’s not just filling minutes. He’s making them matter.