{"id":613803,"date":"2026-04-29T19:27:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/613803\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T19:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T19:27:09","slug":"timberwolves-flipped-the-switch-just-in-time-can-they-hang-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/613803\/","title":{"rendered":"Timberwolves \u201cFlipped the Switch\u201d Just In Time \u2014 Can They Hang On?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> have metaphorically \u201cflipped the switch\u201d to begin the NBA Playoffs, and it comes just in the nick of time. Despite the injury-related setbacks that arose in the first handful of games of their first-round series with Denver<\/a>, the Wolves are still positioned to make a statement and take out the No. 3 seed Nuggets<\/a> by winning one of the two remaining games.<\/p>\n

An Ideal Start Off the Block<\/p>\n

After dropping the series opener in Denver, the Minnesota Timberwolves were forced to look inward and figure out how to put their stamp on the series moving forward. When the Wolves stole Game 2 on Denver\u2019s home floor, Minnesota\u2019s mentality underwent a seismic shift.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards<\/a> dropped 30 points and added 10 rebounds on a hobbled knee, Rudy Gobert<\/a> was excellent, and the defensive effort played a major role in turning a 19-point deficit into a series-turning win. The Wolves headed back to Target Center with the series tied 1-1 and decided it was now theirs to lose.<\/p>\n

In addition to a change in their overall mindset, the Wolves found an offensive formula that exposed the Nuggets\u2019 inability to protect the rim. As Jake Paynting<\/a> of YouTube<\/a>\u2018s Timberwolves-themed channel Howls and Growls<\/a> shows us in a fantastic, quarter-by-quarter breakdown<\/a> of Game 2, Minnesota \u201csnatched back\u201d the series with their performance.<\/p>\n

Exposing the Nuggets\u2019 faulty rim-protection, which has been an issue all season long for Denver, has been and will continue to be key in closing out the series for Minnesota. After Game 2, Wolf Wise Statistics<\/a> brilliantly put this into a chart<\/a> for a more easily digestible view on just how important this will be for Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Jaden \u201cAll Bad Defenders\u201d McDaniels<\/p>\n

Following Game 2\u2019s intense and at times chippy nature, Minnesota\u2019s Jaden McDaniels<\/a> gave a statement that was heard \u2019round the world. When asked what the Wolves figured out offensively to get things rolling, Jaden responded, \u201cThey\u2019re all bad defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Star Tribune<\/a>\u2018s Chris Hine<\/a> captured the moment on video, and it went viral, seen nearly nine million times on X. This sparked a firestorm between the two teams\u2019 fanbases and instantly turned McDaniels into Denver\u2019s biggest archenemy \u2014 with some even calling him a \u201cvillain.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rudy Renaissance<\/p>\n

At times during the regular season, Rudy Gobert looked like a shell of himself, which admittedly had Wolves fans feeling uneasy about their playoff chances. Since the playoffs began, Rudy has been vintage and nothing short of incredible.<\/p>\n

Tasked with defending one of the most gifted offensive players the NBA has ever seen in Nikola Jokic, Gobert had his work cut out for him. Lucky for the Timberwolves, Rudy has been up for the challenge \u2014 and has even taken the matchup personally.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

After missing out on being named a finalist for the NBA\u2019s Defensive Player of the Year award, Rudy admittedly had a chip on his shoulder heading into the postseason. As Timberwolves beat writer Dane Moore<\/a> captured after Game 2\u2019s 119-114 victory, Gobert did not like that his efforts had been overlooked. While he denied<\/a> the snub giving him any \u201cextra juice\u201d in this matchup, his effort seems to prove otherwise.<\/p>\n

Game 3 proved just how important home-court advantage in the NBA Playoffs can be. The Wolves stymied the Nuggets right from the jump. In the first quarter, Minnesota allowed only 11 points to one of the NBA\u2019s most powerful offenses. Not only is this a stellar defensive effort, but Denver\u2019s 11 points in a quarter set a Wolves franchise record<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Minnesota never looked back and won Game 3 by a score of 113-96. This gave them a 2-1 series edge, with one more home game before heading back to Denver.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Game 4 Unpredictability<\/p>\n

Going into Game 4, the Wolves had a clean injury report \u2014 which has been a rarity this season. What they didn\u2019t see coming, however, turned out to be the story of the night. The devastating injuries to both Donte DiVincenzo<\/a> and Anthony Edwards<\/a>, followed by the extraordinary effort from Ayo Dosunmu<\/a>, took Minnesota into uncharted territory. DiVincenzo was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Edwards suffered both a hyperextended left knee and a deep bone bruise.<\/p>\n

While this gutted many fans\u2019 hopes, Ayo wasn\u2019t going to let that be the only headline. Dosunmu picked up the slack in incredible fashion, scoring a career-high 43 points<\/a>, adding four rebounds, and going 5-for-5 from three, leading the Wolves to a 112-96 win at home and a commanding 3-1 series lead.<\/p>\n

The Old-School Nature of the Rivalry<\/p>\n

In the era of high-scoring games and oftentimes lackluster defensive efforts, this matchup has been nothing of the sort. Many say the NBA \u201cisn\u2019t what it used to be.\u201d Well, if that sentiment rings true for you, this rivalry is one you don\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

As Chris Hine wrote<\/a> for the Minnesota Star Tribune, this matchup \u201chearkens to an earlier era of the game\u201d.<\/p>\n

With a debilitated starting lineup, Minnesota gave the Nuggets a run for their money in Game 5 at Denver. Despite their best efforts on the road, the Nuggets got the best of the Wolves, winning the game 125-113. Treated as the \u201cvillain\u201d, Jaden McDaniels struggled mightily and finished the game a -25. In this series, the two games in which McDaniels finished a -17 or worse, the Wolves have lost.<\/p>\n

With the recent injury luck Minnesota has had, Jaden will inarguably have to be better for the Wolves to pull out one more and ultimately clinch the series.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Championship Mentality<\/p>\n

After Game 3, The Athletic<\/a>\u2018s senior writer Jon Krawczynski<\/a> caught the response of Wolves head coach Chris Finch<\/a> when asked about their overall aspirations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to beat Denver,\u201d said Finch. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to win a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, they\u2019re trying to beat Denver to advance. However, Jon notably points out that Minnesota\u2019s mentality has shifted over the years. Reaching the WCF is no longer adequate for Finch, nor should it be. The Wolves now have eyes on an even bigger prize.<\/p>\n

This hinges on two things. Minnesota getting meaningful contributions from the bench to make up for DiVincenzo\u2019s production is first. Second, if Anthony Edwards can return at some point next series (assuming they close out Denver), then nothing is off the table.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The post Timberwolves \u201cFlipped the Switch\u201d Just In Time \u2014 Can They Hang On?<\/a> appeared first on The Lead<\/a>.<\/p>\n