MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Miami Heat in the second quarter at Target Center on January 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 06: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Miami Heat in the second quarter at Target Center on January 06, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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Game Story
Many things have been said about this season’s Minnesota Timberwolves. On nights like tonight, everything that we — yes, you and I — have said about this team’s inconsistencies and short-comings fall away and we see the skeleton of a team that should be near the top of the league.
After a dreadfully energy-less first quarter, the Wolves simply found a way to build a double digit lead and maintain it going into the fourth. A flurry of threes from the Big Ragu saw Minnesota enter the fourth quarter with a considerable 16 point lead.
What stood out the most was the sheer efficacy with which the Wolves learned from their bad start and adjusted to their opponents. Against a Miami HEAT team that plays at a record pace, the fastbreak was instead often wrangled into half court sets. The rebounding, which started as a decided disadvantage against the pair of seven footers in Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo, eventually became a proof of just how well this group can play if they don’t forget the little things.
The last game I was on recap for was the New Year’s Eve drubbing against the Atlanta Hawks, and I can tell you that few things have ever been more refreshing than going from that nightmare to this experience of levity.
The Wolves, to their discredit, have been a team that starts seasons slowly. Each of the past few years, we have entered January with questionable losses on the schedule and roster questions that great teams rarely have. However, the recent stretch of games seems to signal that time is a flat circle and the Timberwolves are once again starting to figure things out.
With that exciting possibility on the horizon, let’s get into some more minutia of this game, from Rudy Gobert’s dominance to the continued roll call of point guards.
Let’s get to it.
The Frightening Frenchman
No one has been a better defender in the league this year than Rudolph the Red Nosed Gobert (I know we’re a few weeks past this, but I never got to use it). The moment to moment impact he provides has been ridiculous, resulting in a defense that is nearly 18 points better with him on the court than off it.
While tonight’s performance was no less special (as you can see in the clip above), the thing that stood out was Gobert’s newfound offensive groove.
I wrote a piece a few years ago about how the supersized lineup was coming back and how valuable second chance points would be in a league that was trying to find more and more ways to manufacture extra possessions. The two primary ways to add those extra possessions are a) forcing live ball turnovers and/or moving the ball fast enough to regain clock later (ie. pace) or b) finding those chances on the glass.
Tonight was seemingly a battle between those two paths. The Heat’s high paced offense was completely frozen out, while Gobert had four offensive rebounds and 13 points.
There is no player more controversial than the man both titled as “the Stifle Tower” and “Baguette Boy” — for good reason — but in finding a way to be a high level contributor on the side of the ball on which he has long since been seen as a liability, well… unfortunately, nothing will change about how he’s seen anyway, but it is certainly good for the Wolves!
The Following Frenchman
While much of the focus will be on the old guard of Wolves’ bigs, there were few things more fun tonight than the sudden, all too unexpected arrival of Joan Beringer. Less than a day after being recalled from the Iowa Wolves, the rookie first round pick got some garbage time run against a starting caliber center in Ware.
He responded by doing what all fans hope to see from an exciting youngster glued to the bench and proved he is ready for some real minutes, even if it is only to keep Gobert fresh for the post-season.
When so much of the conversation surrounding Minnesota’s potential deadline moves is about finding a suitable backup for Rudy, a player like Beringer is so quickly forgotten. There are few players that impressed more during summer league. There are few situations worse for Joan to get immediate attention. And yet, here he is, catching passes from Joe Ingles and turning the last four minutes of a one sided game into a think piece.
The movements are far more fluid than they have any right to be. The tip ins had great touch and the glass was alive with the sound of putbacks. Most importantly, the minutes are coming.
Considering the abject failure of both 2024 draft picks in Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. this season, it’s fun to finally see someone who could flank the young (ish) trio of Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Anthony Edwards. If Beringer becomes that, I will think of nights like tonight and smile to myself.
Wolves basketball was, for once, just fun.
Goodnight Wolves fans, enjoy the win!
The Wolves will look to keep the momentum going against the surprisingly unstable Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, January 8 at 7:00pm CT. This will be the first meeting of the two teams. Donovan Mitchell, the fourth leading scorer in the league, sat out their previous game for rest. Minnesota will get Spida and the Cavs at full strength.
Highlights