While the Minnesota Timberwolves have become a more offensive-minded team recently, at their core, this team wins by playing great defense. The perfect example of this is Thursday night's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Minnesota defeated the defending champs 123-111. In this game, the Wolves' stifling defense set the tone and ultimately helped them pull off an upset win.
Minnesota Timberwolves outstanding team defense pic.twitter.com/we8ZUo8HLt
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) January 30, 2026
Overall, the Wolves are clearly at their best when they're active and engaged defensively. Sure, you can probably say this about any team, but the Wolves' defense is highly erratic yet talented. They ranked fourth in defensive rating overall. However, in wins, they have a 106.3 DRTG, and in losses, they have a 120.5 DRTG. For reference, this is the difference between the league's second-best and second-worst defense.
When the Wolves are at their best, Minnesota is legitimately one of the best defenses in the league. In a playoff setting, this makes them capable of topping any team. Yes, even the almighty Thunder.
Would I consider it likely that the Wolves will beat the Thunder in a seven-game series? No, but my point is that at their ceiling, the Wolves could beat them, and to do so, it must start with matching OKC's incredible defensive intensity.
The Timberwolves' defense could lead them to a championship
What makes the Wolves' defense special in the first place is the combination of Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Gobert, of course, is one of the best rim protectors of all-time. McDaniels is a top-10-level defender in the league with elite on-ball perimeter defense and impressive versatility.
Gobert and McDaniels have been the consistent pillars of the Wolves' defense all season long. However, when the Wolves are at their best, they get more defensive production out of their entire team, most notably, their stars Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Edwards and Randle have struggled to remain engaged on defense this year. Still, they're both high-level on-ball defenders, and when they're engaged defensively, this team reaches another level. Donte DiVincenzo is far from an elite defender -- but his effort is never in question. He makes a positive impact every night as an on-ball disruptor and defensive playmaker.
Playing with energy and effort is something any team can control -- but the Wolves' defense is one of the most talented groups in the league.
The ceiling of this Wolves' defense is incredibly high, and it's been crucial to their playoff success over the past two seasons. For the Wolves to put together another deep playoff run (and perhaps get over the championship hump), they must play consistent defense. Undoubtedly, the Thunder are the standard, and to beat them, matching their elite defense is a crucial factor -- that's something few teams can do, but the Wolves are one of them.