The Minnesota Timberwolves have found a formula while Anthony Edwards is out, and it starts with LaMelo Ball playing like a true first option.
Minnesota is 5-2 in the seven games since Edwards was injured and has won four straight heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. Over that four-game streak, Ball has taken on a much bigger scoring load and the numbers have followed: 25 points, 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game on 52.2/44.7/86.7 shooting splits.
That version of Ball looks a lot closer to what the Wolves need. In the first three games without Edwards, he was still adjusting to the extra responsibility and the production dipped to 14 points, 6.3 assists and 5 rebounds on 35/30.8/100 shooting splits.
The biggest change has been his willingness to hunt his own offense. His field goal attempts have jumped from 13.3 to 16.8, and that shift has mattered.
Early on, Ball leaned too heavily into playmaking and didn’t fully seize control as a scorer. In the last four games, he has been far more assertive, and Minnesota has benefited.
The connection between Ball’s output and team success has been hard to miss. In wins, he is averaging 21.5 points with 48.4/43.6/81.8 shooting splits. In losses, that drops all the way to 9.7 points with 31.3/16.7/75 shooting splits.
That’s why the aggressive version of Ball is the one Minnesota needs most. The Wolves brought him in for his passing, but his shot creation is just as important, especially with Edwards sidelined. He remains one of the league’s best tough-shot makers, and the team has leaned into that more in recent games.
There’s another layer to this too: Ball has been cleaner with his foul trouble and more disciplined on defense. In losses, he is averaging five fouls, and when that happens, his offensive rhythm disappears. The San Antonio Spurs game stood out as the clearest example.
Opponents are going to keep testing him physically. That makes sense given his frame, and it’s a natural way to try to limit him as a 3-point threat. With Edwards out, that pressure becomes even easier to apply, and the Spurs and Golden State Warriors had success using that approach.
But Ball has answered better lately. He’s not only hitting contested 3s, he’s also handling pressure more effectively and getting to the rim more often.
In the first three games without Ant, he averaged just 2.3 shots within five feet of the hoop and made 42.9 percent of them. In the last four games, those numbers have climbed to 3.8 attempts and 80 percent.
That added rim pressure has given his offense more balance and made him a more dangerous scorer overall. He also showed he can do it against quality competition, including the Houston Rockets last week.
If Ball keeps attacking like this, Minnesota’s recent run without Edwards has a real chance to continue.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Hot Start Is Silencing Two Major Offseason Doubts
The Timberwolves spent the offseason inviting questions, reshaping the roster by moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid while bringing in LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. Early returns have given the front office some cover, at least for now. Minnesota has stressed rebounding from the start, and the effort has shown up in the way Rudy Gobert, Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels have all helped steady the group while the team keeps leaning on a productive ten-man rotation through injuries.
LaMelo Balls fit has been especially important with Anthony Edwards sidelined, because Minnesota needed someone to handle more of the offense without letting the rest of the structure fall apart. So far, the Wolves have managed to stay balanced while sorting out a new hierarchy, and the early chemistry is doing a lot to quiet the concern that the offseason changes would leave them too thin on the glass or too dependent on one star. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Clark Is Making Minnesotas Rotation Look Very Different
Jaylen Clarks rise has become one of the more interesting side stories in Minnesota this season, and it has come at a time when the Timberwolves have had to rethink their rotation on the fly. The young wing, who was extended to a three-year contract this summer, has looked far more comfortable offensively, with his three-point shot and overall confidence taking a noticeable step forward. What has stood out is the consistency, not just in games but in practice, where he has carried himself like a player who belongs in a bigger role.
The opportunity opened up when Anthony Edwards knee injury forced Minnesota to lean harder on its depth, and Clark has responded by giving the staff something to consider beyond just short-term cover. His increased minutes have helped accelerate his development, especially on the offensive end, where he no longer looks like a player trying to find his footing. For a Timberwolves team trying to stay steady through a changing lineup, Clarks emergence has made the rotation look a little different than anyone expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Healthy Timberwolves Could Unlock An Offense Fans Havent Fully Seen
Even with Anthony Edwards sidelined after knee surgery, the Timberwolves have kept their perimeter game in a healthy place. Minnesota ranks ninth in the league in made three-pointers per game and owns the eighth-best accuracy from beyond the arc, which says plenty about how the offense has held together and how many different players can stretch the floor. That kind of balance matters for a team trying to stay dangerous even when its star scorer is not available.
Donte DiVincenzos return to full strength could make that spacing even more difficult to defend, because the Wolves already have enough shooting to punish teams that collapse on drives or Karl-Anthony Towns touches. If Edwards and DiVincenzo are both back and moving well, Minnesotas three-point threat could look a lot more layered than it has so far, with the offense opening up in ways fans have only glimpsed in spurts. [Read more 🡒]