For the Minnesota Timberwolves, playoff success has often felt like a distant dream. In their first 34 years, the franchise only tasted victory in two postseason series, thanks to the legendary Kevin Garnett leading the charge in 2003-04. Fast forward to today, and the Timberwolves are rewriting their history books, having just eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers to reach the second round of the NBA playoffs for the second consecutive year.
On Wednesday night, the Timberwolves pulled off a thrilling 103-96 victory over the Lakers, showcasing a level of determination and grit that sets them apart from past teams. This current squad has proven they can handle the pressure of the playoffs, and their recent success is a testament to their growth and tenacity.
“Our guys fought,” said head coach Chris Finch after the game. “They fought through it. I’m happy that they are able to achieve something that no other team has been able to do in the history of the franchise, which is go back to the second round two years in a row. Now there are bigger goals out there, but for the moment, we’ll be pretty happy about that.”
The Timberwolves faced the Lakers in a gripping five-game series, demonstrating not only their skill but also their ability to adapt to the challenges that come with playoff basketball. After a dominant win in Game 1, they faced a setback in Game 2 but bounced back with two hard-fought victories at home, showcasing their resilience.
The clinching game was particularly unique, as the Lakers opted for a small-ball lineup to counter the Timberwolves' aggressive defense. This strategy opened up the paint for center Rudy Gobert, who delivered a standout performance with playoff career highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds, helping to secure the win despite his teammates struggling from beyond the arc.
“When Gobert does what he does tonight, you see how good we can be as a team,” said Julius Randle, highlighting the importance of teamwork in their success.
Even with leading scorer Anthony Edwards having an off night—missing all 11 of his three-point attempts and finishing with just 5 for 19 shooting—the Timberwolves found a way to win. Their balanced scoring and strong team defense were key, with at least eight points contributed by seven players in Finch’s eight-man rotation.
The Timberwolves didn’t let the less-than-pretty nature of the victory dampen their spirits. They took pride in overcoming the challenges posed by the star-studded Lakers. After last season’s second-round victory over the defending champion Denver Nuggets and a tough loss in the Western Conference finals to Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks, the Wolves are learning to navigate the complexities of playoff basketball and are becoming more comfortable with it.
“I think what I’m super happy about with this team right now is we’re not satisfied,” Finch remarked. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’ll regroup, but we are certainly going to celebrate this because this team took a lot of criticism throughout the season. That was set against the backdrop of a really good run last year. But every team is different, every team has to come together, every team has to go through pain, and every team has to figure it out. This team figured it out.”
Looking ahead, Minnesota could potentially be the home team in the second round if the Golden State Warriors manage to finish off the second-seeded Houston Rockets. Facing off against superstars like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler in the playoffs could be an even tougher challenge than battling Doncic and James, but the Timberwolves are ready to keep the momentum going.
“It’s just a start, but I feel good about it as well,” Randle said. “Especially the way we won, and how we were doubted. It just shows we’ve got a lot of character in the locker room.”
