There are 82 games in an NBA season, but every now and then, one comes along that feels heavier than the standings might suggest. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday’s gritty 103-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t just add another tally in the win column-it revealed something deeper about this team’s identity.
Coming off an emotional high after knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder-a statement win against one of the West’s elite-the Wolves returned to the floor facing a very different kind of challenge. The Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and limping through a brutal stretch, having dropped nine of their previous eleven without their star.
On paper, this was a game Minnesota should win. But as every coach preaches, those are the games that can trip you up the most.
And for a while, it looked like that might be the case.
The Wolves came out flat. Defensively, they were a step behind.
Offensively, they couldn’t buy a bucket. They shot just 35% from the field in the first half, missed their first 13 three-point attempts, and even left points at the line, converting just 67% of their free throws.
It was the kind of start that can bury a team-especially when you lose a key piece like Jaden McDaniels, who exited in the second quarter with left hip pain and didn’t return.
But this Timberwolves team is showing signs of maturity. They didn’t fold. Instead, they flipped the script.
Down 15 in the third quarter, Minnesota ripped off a 20-0 run in under six minutes-a game-changing surge sparked by energy, execution, and a renewed commitment on both ends. Donte DiVincenzo hit back-to-back threes to erase the deficit and hand the Wolves the lead. From there, the momentum belonged to Minnesota.
Mike Conley, back in the lineup after missing four games, was the calming force that held it all together. He didn’t light up the scoreboard-just six points-but his fingerprints were all over the turnaround.
He dished out six assists, finished with a +16 plus-minus, and orchestrated the offense with the kind of savvy that comes from 17 years in the league. His presence was a reminder of how important veteran leadership is to this young core.
Rudy Gobert, meanwhile, anchored the paint like only he can. He grabbed 18 rebounds-six of them on the offensive glass-and passed a major career milestone in the process, becoming just the fifth active player to eclipse 10,000 total rebounds.
But it wasn’t just the numbers. Gobert’s presence altered shots, cleaned up misses, and gave the Wolves second-chance opportunities that proved crucial in a tight game.
Anthony Edwards had an off night shooting the ball-7-of-24 from the field-but he found other ways to impact the game. He got to the line 12 times, knocking down eight, and finished with 24 points.
More importantly, he made smart decisions with the ball, logging six assists to just one turnover. When it mattered most, Edwards delivered, scoring seven points in the final minutes, including a dagger three that pushed the lead to eight with under three minutes to play.
That shot didn’t just seal the win-it sent a message. Even when the shots aren’t falling, Edwards is finding ways to lead.
With the win, the Timberwolves improved to 19-10-four games better than they were at this point last season. And while there’s still a long way to go, games like this show a team learning how to win in different ways.
They’ve shown they can beat the top-tier teams. Now they’re proving they can grind out wins when the energy dips and adversity strikes.
Up Next: Minnesota wraps up a five-game homestand on Tuesday against the New York Knicks-and it’s not just any visit. It’ll be the return of Karl-Anthony Towns, now wearing a Knicks jersey, making just his second appearance at Target Center as a visiting player since the offseason trade.
Expect emotions, storylines, and a fired-up crowd. The Wolves will look to keep the momentum rolling-and maybe add another defining win to the list.