Timberwolves Take Down Kings Behind Bones Hyland’s Breakout Night, Extend Home Dominance
With the Minnesota winter in full swing outside Target Center, the Timberwolves brought the heat indoors, kicking off a five-game homestand with a 117-103 win over the Sacramento Kings. It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but this one was all about resilience-and a statement performance from Bones Hyland.
Already without Anthony Edwards for the second straight game due to foot soreness-and with Mike Conley also sidelined-Minnesota leaned on Hyland to steer the ship at point guard. And while the Wolves stumbled out of the gate offensively, Hyland’s poise and timely buckets were the spark they needed to get back on track and close strong.
A Sluggish Start, Then a Spark
The first quarter was rough. The Wolves couldn’t buy a bucket, going just 9-of-24 from the field, 1-of-7 from three, and leaving points at the line (1-of-3). Sacramento, despite their struggles this season, took full advantage and built a 27-20 lead after one.
But the second quarter opened with a jolt. Minnesota ripped off a 12-0 run to flip the momentum, only to see the Kings respond by hitting 11 of their next 14 shots. That stretch sent the Wolves into halftime down one, 52-51, and left the home crowd waiting for someone to take control.
Bones Takes Over
That someone was Bones Hyland.
After Sacramento’s Keegan Murray opened the second half with a bucket, the Wolves answered with a 15-0 run-highlighted by Hyland’s fingerprints all over the action. A pair of slick assists, a step-back jumper, and a calm command of the offense gave Minnesota a 13-point cushion and showed exactly why Hyland has earned trust in this rotation.
But the momentum took a hit late in the third when Rudy Gobert exited the game for personal reasons and did not return. Without their defensive anchor, Minnesota had to dig in and find another way to close it out.
Fouls, Free Throws, and Frustration
The third quarter turned into a whistle-fest, and it didn’t favor the Wolves. Minnesota was whistled for 12 fouls in the period, sending Sacramento to the line 14 times.
The Wolves, by contrast, got just three free throw attempts-and missed all of them. That disparity kept the Kings within striking distance, trailing by just four heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter Finishers
Then came the Wolves’ calling card: a dominant fourth quarter. Hyland set the tone again, scoring seven quick points to push the lead back to double digits. Naz Reid followed with a pair of threes and some strong work at the line, continuing his stretch of high-impact minutes off the bench.
Julius Randle sealed the win with an and-1 layup, capping a night where he led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. He was one of five Timberwolves to score at least 18 points-a testament to the team’s depth and balance, even without two of their top playmakers.
Jaden McDaniels added 21, Reid had 20, and both Hyland and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 18 apiece. It was the kind of all-around effort that’s becoming a trademark of this Wolves squad-especially at home, where they’ve now won six of their last seven.
Finch: “Composure Down the Stretch Has Gotten Better”
After the game, head coach Chris Finch pointed to the team’s improved late-game execution as a key factor in their recent success.
“I think our composure down the stretch has gotten a lot better,” Finch said. “Our ability to make the right read-certainly shot-making has helped in those moments.
Coming off that week where we went to Phoenix, SAC, Oklahoma City, we talked about how we need to be better in closing games. Guys have done a good job of addressing that.”
That composure showed once again Monday night. Even when Sacramento made its push, the Wolves never panicked. They turned up the intensity in the fourth and trusted their playmakers to carry them home.
Bones’ Big Night
Hyland’s performance was especially encouraging. In just his second start of the season, he looked every bit the part of a floor general-attacking mismatches, getting downhill, and making the right reads.
“I seen the matchups that I liked,” Hyland said postgame. “Just trying to be aggressive, get downhill, whether it’s for myself or create for teammates… just make the right reads.”
That’s exactly what he did. Hyland scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth and consistently made smart decisions with the ball. He didn’t dominate the usage chart, but he made his minutes count-and with Edwards and Conley out, the Wolves needed every bit of it.
Rotation Spot Secured?
Since re-entering the rotation earlier this week, Hyland has brought energy, shot creation, and a steady hand to a team that’s quietly climbing the Western Conference ladder. If he keeps playing like this, it’ll be hard to imagine him falling out of the mix-even when the roster is back at full strength.
Up Next
The Wolves continue their homestand with another matchup inside the friendly confines of Target Center. With momentum building and confidence growing, Minnesota is starting to look like a team that knows how to win in multiple ways-and that’s a dangerous thing come December.