The Timberwolves knew the bench had questions attached to it before the season even tipped off. Ayo Dosunmu was the only proven reserve in the group, and when Anthony Edwards went down, those concerns came rushing right back.
Instead, Minnesota’s second unit has come out swinging.
Through two games without Edwards, the Wolves’ bench is averaging 50 points, which ranks second in the league over that stretch. That kind of production has helped steady a team that will be without Edwards for roughly two months. It also fits into a larger pattern: Minnesota’s bench is already seventh in the NBA in bench scoring at 43 points per game.
Dosunmu moved into the starting five after Edwards’ injury, opening the door for the rest of the reserves to take on more responsibility. That raised a lot of fair questions.
Could Terrence Shannon Jr. keep producing? Would Bones Hyland handle a bigger workload?
Could Joan Beringer and Trey Lyles keep building on their early-season form? So far, the answer has been a loud yes.
Minnesota has used a 10-man rotation in its two games without Edwards, and the bench has been a major reason the team has stayed competitive. Against the Golden State Warriors, the reserves helped spark a comeback in a loss. Then on Friday, the second unit exploded for 51 points in a blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Shannon and Hyland have been the biggest drivers of that surge. Hyland is averaging 16 points, while Shannon is at 15, and together they’re responsible for a little more than 60 percent of the bench scoring over the last two games.
Shannon brings downhill pressure and a real ability to get to the foul line, which is exactly the kind of punch Minnesota needs without Edwards. Hyland offers a different look, but he adds pace and perimeter creation at a level that keeps the offense moving. Both players operate at the speed that fits the Wolves’ style.
That said, this hasn’t just been about scoring guards. Beringer has given Minnesota quality minutes as a backup by finishing lobs, setting hard screens, and cleaning up the glass.
Lyles has provided steadiness, even if the box score doesn’t always shout it out, while also giving the team spacing. Jaylen Clark has brought energy and defense, and his activity has mattered.
Put all of that together, and the bench has become a real weapon. Shannon and Hyland supply the creation, while Beringer, Lyles, and Clark fill in the exact kinds of roles that make a second unit work. There’s still a long road ahead without Edwards, and the bench will have to keep this level up if Minnesota wants to hold steady.
For now, though, the early returns are hard to ignore. The Timberwolves’ bench has answered the challenge, and if this keeps going, Minnesota could end up looking like one of the deepest teams in the league. With the talent already in the starting five, that’s a pretty dangerous combination.
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Without Anthony Edwards in the mix, the defensive attention on Ball figures to be even sharper, which makes the matchup feel less like a routine regular-season night and more like a preview of the kind of resistance he would have to solve in a bigger setting. For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious: if Ball can keep creating against that sort of resistance, it strengthens the case that his game can translate when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball Is Creating A Problem The Wolves Can't Afford Right Now
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The latest example came against the Spurs, when Ball was whistled early and never fully settled in. Minnesota needs his playmaking and energy on the floor, but the defensive lapses have kept undercutting that value, including a sequence against Victor Wembanyama that summed up the problem: too much contact, too little availability, and not enough margin for error right now. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Timberwolves, the immediate concern is obvious: Edwards is central to everything they do, and any extended absence changes the tone of the season before it really settles in. Around the league, injuries of this size tend to ripple beyond the standings, and this one could have front offices watching the calendar a little more closely as November approaches and trade chatter starts to pick up. [Read more 🡒]