Timberwolves Find Their Fight: Edwards, Gobert Deliver Season-Defining Win Over Thunder
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t just beat the best team in the NBA on Friday night - they dug deep, found their edge, and may have uncovered the identity they’ve been searching for all season.
Coming into the matchup, the Oklahoma City Thunder were riding high with a league-best 24-2 record. The Wolves, sitting at 17-10, were still looking for a win that could serve as a turning point - the kind of performance that doesn’t just show up in the standings but resonates in the locker room and sets the tone for the months ahead.
Head coach Chris Finch knew it. Earlier in the week, he called it out plainly: Minnesota needed a signature win. And against a juggernaut like OKC, they got one - in the most chaotic, gritty, and emotionally charged way possible.
Finch Ejected, Wolves Ignite
The night got off to a wild start. Less than six minutes into the game, Finch was tossed after a heated exchange with the officials.
The crowd at Target Center - nearly 19,000 strong - erupted, giving their coach a standing ovation as he stormed down the tunnel. The chants that followed weren’t exactly family-friendly, but they were loud, passionate, and set the tone for what would become a playoff-like atmosphere.
From that point on, the game took on a different energy. Finch’s ejection lit a fire under his team, and the fans responded in kind.
Every whistle was met with groans, every no-call sparked outrage. The Wolves fed off the emotion, even as they struggled early.
Minnesota couldn’t buy a bucket in the first quarter. They shot just 8-of-27 from the field and 3-of-12 from deep, trailing by 10 after one.
But despite the offensive struggles, they didn’t fold. They leaned into the chaos, embraced the fight, and found a way to stay in the game.
Grit Over Glamour
This wasn’t a pretty win. The Wolves shot just 37.5% from the field and left 14 points at the free-throw line.
Against a team like OKC, those are usually fatal mistakes. But Minnesota made up for it with sheer effort.
They pulled down 18 offensive rebounds - just one shy of their season high - and turned them into 29 second-chance points. That’s the kind of stat that tells the story of a team refusing to be outworked.
Assistant coach Micah Nori, who took over after Finch’s ejection, summed it up: “You can’t always control shots going in… but just your energy and effort.”
That energy was relentless. OKC, playing the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Clippers at home, never led by more than 12 after the first quarter.
And while the Thunder missed their fair share of open looks, Minnesota’s defensive intensity was a major factor. They hounded shooters, crashed the glass, and made every possession a battle.
Edwards Delivers the Dagger
As the game tightened in the final minutes, it felt like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was going to spoil the party. He went into takeover mode, hitting tough shots and putting pressure on Minnesota’s defense.
With one minute left, the Thunder led 107-104, and ESPN gave them a 74% chance to win. But the Wolves weren’t done.
Julius Randle went to the line, hit one of two, and Rudy Gobert - doing what he’s done all night - tipped the miss back out. Donte DiVincenzo corralled it, swung it to Anthony Edwards, and then came the moment.
Edwards, with Cason Wallace draped all over him, stepped back and launched a three. Nothing but net.
The building exploded. It was the loudest Target Center has been all season, and for good reason.
Edwards didn’t just hit a game-winner - he hit the shot. The kind of shot that defines a night, a player, and maybe even a season.
“It was electric,” Edwards said postgame. “The fans brought the energy. Coach brought the energy in the first quarter when he got thrown out, and we had to respond.”
Respond they did.
Gobert’s Grit, Wolves’ Identity
While Edwards will get the highlight, Gobert’s effort was just as critical. His offensive rebounding - six boards on that end alone - gave the Wolves life throughout the night.
That final tap-out? It won’t show up as a flashy stat, but it made the game-winner possible.
“Crashing the glass, getting those extra shots,” Nori said. “It’s kind of interesting how the last [shot], the big one, was off second-chance points.”
That’s the blueprint for this team. They’re not always going to shoot the lights out. But if they can defend, rebound, and outwork their opponents, they can hang with anyone - even the league’s best.
A Win to Build On
This wasn’t just a win over a great team. It was a statement.
The Wolves didn’t have their best offensive night. Their head coach didn’t even make it out of the first quarter.
But they found a way to win - and that says something about who they are and who they might become.
If Minnesota is going to make a serious run in the West, this is the kind of performance they’ll need to replicate. Grit, energy, and a refusal to back down - even when the shots aren’t falling.
Friday night felt like more than just a December win. It felt like the Timberwolves found something. Now the challenge is holding onto it.