After two surprising losses, the Minnesota Timberwolves are back on track with a dominant 134-93 victory in the rematch against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was fantastic for Minnesota because it boosted their confidence for the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
The Timberwolves are still in step with their rivals in the Playoff hunt, as the Los Angeles Clippers also won on Friday. Golden State has a grip on the sixth seed, but in the meantime, Minnesota's players are trying their best to chase them down.
Heading into this game against the Pelicans, the Timberwolves were in a rut. A few days beforehand, they were on a high with their eight-game winning streak, but they suddenly lost two games disappointingly.
This rematch against the Pelicans was an opportunity to return to normalcy. They did just that, as Minnesota had off a dominant display against the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans team that just beat them a couple of days before this game. It was a fantastic win that led to significant takeaways for the rest of the season.
Joe's son, Jacob, watching his dad make his first Wolves start. pic.twitter.com/SzuH7cMISA
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 22, 2025
A Motivated Timberwolves Team Usually Leads To Good Results
From the start of this game, the Timberwolves were energetic. That is what head coach Chris Finch wants to see from his team. When they play with pace, they are a much better team because they have the personnel to play an attacking style.
The energy was also seen in other parts of the game as they battled for rebounds and worked hard to get loose balls. Rudy Gobert had a great game in that aspect because the Pelicans had no one to stop him when battling for the ball in the rebounds and loose balls.
Positivity was apparent throughout the team, as everyone played well. Seven players scored in double digits led by Julius Randle's 20 points. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels were also impressive on both ends of the floor, scoring 17 points apiece to maintain the dominance.
Related: Ant Edwards Recalls How Finch Lit A Fire Under Timberwolves
The Timberwolves' Ball Movement Was Spectacular
The biggest discrepancy between the Timberwolves and Pelicans in Friday's game was the ball movement. New Orleans tried their best to move the ball and got 20 assists. Minnesota had a spectacular night sharing the ball, doubling their opponents with 40 assists.
It was one of the best games of the season for the well-flowing offense, which Finch wants to keep seeing from the team. After the game, Gobert was pleased with how the ball moved around the court.
"When the defense collapses, making the right play, like I said, it's contagious. When Ant does it, Julius does it, then obviously Jaden, Nickeil, all these guys, if they're open, they're getting the ball. It's like we get a flow going, we're connected," Rudy said in the locker room after the win.
so nice, gotta see it twice https://t.co/9sGMidfzI3pic.twitter.com/SaOr9cD1RR
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 22, 2025
The Timberwolves Are A Deep Team For The Postseason
As the end of the regular season nears, the Timberwolves should make it into the Playoffs. Even if they miss out in the race for the sixth seed, they are still favored to win the Play-In Tournament.
The team is finally healthy, so they are prepared to take it further in the postseason. Minnesota has superb depth beyond the usual stars of Edwards, Randle, and Gobert. A standout is McDaniels, who has become a more reliable offensive player to pair with his elite defense.
The bench is still superb, led by Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo. However, they also unearthed a solid contributor with Jaylen Clarke, quickly becoming a Finch favorite.
If they continue on this trajectory, the Timberwolves could become one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Minnesota might be a lower seed ahead of the Playoffs, but they can pull off some surprise upsets, even against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Related: The Timberwolves are Peaking at the Right Time Under Chris Finch
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM.