Timberwolves Gobert sets record as game hangs on balance until final buzzer

What went right

Despite countless opportunities to curl up into a fetal position and allow the Thunder to steal the win, the Timberwolves rallied back. So who do the Timberwolves have to thank for the rally for the first win of the season?

Let’s start this list of Honorable Mentions by confirming that the Timberwolves performed exactly as they were expected to do. The team is still feeling its way, trying to become comfortable with new players and, with it, a new philosophy on both sides of the basketball court.

The Timberwolves landed seven players in double-digit scoring, including all five starters. But it was not an easy task. Several players did rise to the challenge in this one. Let’s meet the top three Timberwolves stars of the game

Honorable Mention: Jaylen Nowell

Despite coming off the bench, Jaylen Nowell proved to be a vital spark to this team. His 13 points led all bench scorers, which started with his eight-point outburst that shocked Target Center fans in just his first three minutes in the game.

While Nowell ended his +/- at (-1), his well-rounded performance impacted the team with scoring, rebounds, and assists. It’s not easy to come off the bench, but Jaylen Nowell really made doing so appear easy in this one.

Silver medal: Jaden McDaniels

Time and time again, Jaden McDaniels stepped up for the Timberwolves. McDaniels was the third-leading scorer for the Timberwolves, which is a bit of a surprise considering the roster. But McDaniels was active all over the basketball court. He also tied for third place with six rebounds, led the team with two blocked shots, and led the team with three steals.

Despite missing on all three perimeter shots, he did score five of ten shots from the floor, as well as hit on nine of ten shots from the free throw line. It was Mcdaniels’ ability to draw fouls and sink those shots that helped the Timberwolves to pull ahead in the fourth and final quarter.

Gold medal: Rudy Gobert

Without Gobert, the Timberwolves do not win this one. It’s just that simple. On a night in which Karl-Anthony Towns was not at the top of his game, Rudy Gobert absolutely was. Gobert looked every bit the custom fit for the Timberwolves, as he scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for his first of what appears to be many double-doubles to come.

Gobert scored on 10 of 15 shooting from the floor, many of those field goals giving teammates an assist. The ability of Gobert to be heavily involved on offense is something we had heard much about, but this was the first indication that the Timberwolves had figured out how to make that happen.

Gobert’s debut with16 rebounds set a record for the Timberwolves as well.

Was this a pretty win? Absolutely not. But it was a promising win. And to open the season, sometimes promising can be better than pretty.