The Minnesota Timberwolves are beginning to look like one of the most complete and dangerous teams in the Western Conference, and their climb into sixth place in the standings is no accident.
With five straight wins for the first time this season before losing to the Phoenix Suns Monday night and a fully healthy roster finally intact, Minnesota has surged into the top tier of the West and now sits just two games behind the second-place Los Angeles Lakers.
The rise has been fueled by improved offensive efficiency, timely shooting, and most notably the continued maturation of Anthony Edwards, who is learning that dominating the game does not always mean taking the final shot. After struggling through a brief three-game skid in which the Timberwolves scored just 105.4 points per 100 possessions, their offense has exploded during the winning streak to 124.4 per 100.
The Wolves’ driving force
The perimeter shooting has been the driving force behind that turnaround, with Donte DiVincenzo, Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid combining to shoot 47 percent from three-point range during the five-game stretch. Minnesota has now outscored its opponents from beyond the arc in seven consecutive games and owns the second-best three-point scoring differential in the NBA this season at plus-7.6 points per game.
That sustained shooting advantage has allowed the Wolves to control games even when their half-court offense bogs down. The growth has also shown in late-game execution, an area that haunted Minnesota at different points last season. The Timberwolves are now 6-4 in clutch situations, including three straight wins in games decided in the final five minutes.
Veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. has been on the floor for four of their last five close finishes, providing the steady hand that allows Minnesota to organize its offense under pressure. His late free throws against the Clippers tied one recent game, and his ability to break down the defense immediately afterward created the open look that led to Naz Reid’s game-winning three-pointer.
Everything starts from Edwards evolving game
Still, the transformation of the Timberwolves ultimately traces back to Edwards and his evolving understanding of what it means to lead a winning team. The 24-year-old shooting guard remains one of the most explosive scorers in the league, but his approach has noticeably shifted over the past year.
That evolution was on full display in a recent loss to the Phoenix Suns, a game in which Minnesota fell 108-105 but Edwards produced 40 points and nine rebounds while facing relentless double-teams. Rather than allowing the extra coverage to frustrate him, Edwards embraced it and repeatedly made the correct reads to keep the offense flowing.
Earlier in the season, Edwards acknowledged that double-teams used to irritate him because they forced him into a distributor’s role instead of allowing him to attack as a scorer. At the time, he openly admitted that passing out of pressure was not how he wanted to play and that it could knock him out of rhythm. Fast forward 12 months, and that mindset has dramatically shifted.
Now, Edwards views the constant attention as a challenge rather than a limitation, explaining that every night feels like a playoff game because of the tougher coverage he faces. Instead of resisting it, he has leaned into film study and decision-making, learning when to attack, when to draw defenders, and when to trust his teammates.
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