"A playoffs star has been born," Mike Breen declared after Ayo Dosunmu bowled over Jamal Murray and scored his 35th and 36 points on Saturday night. But it's understandable if you couldn't hear the legendary announcer over the relentless roar of the Timberwolves home crowd. Or if you couldn't hear the classic "Bang!" call when Dosunmu hit the 3-pointer that sunk the Denver Nuggets once and for all just a few minutes later.
The circumstances that led to Dosunmu's career-high 43 points are bleak for Wolves fans. Donte DiVincenzo suffered a heartbreaking injury in the first quarter, tearing his Achilles on a non-contact play. Then, superstar Anthony Edwards left with a hyperextended knee in the second quarter, and fans will wait with bated breath to hear word on the severity of that. Dosunmu's masterpiece in Game 4 won't undo those injuries, obviously, but for one night, at least, he rallied the Wolves and everyone in Minnesota to a state of euphoria that felt impossible just a few hours prior.
Dosunmu has been so good for the Timberwolves all season long, that letting him walk this summer in free agency was probably never an option. Now, with DiVincenzo likely to miss most of, if not all, of the 2026-27 season — and Dosunmu stepping up on the biggest stage — he's quickly become priority No. 1 for the front office this offseason. Keep him around at all costs (and it will be costly). He's earned his spot as a longtime T'Wolve, to say the least.
He was going to be a crucial piece of the Wolves rotation even if everyone was fully healthy. Now, with Donte likely to be watching from the sidelines while he fights his way back from injury, Dosunmu will be thrust into a near-star role. Every game he gets closer to convincing everyone that he'll be able to play that role just fine.
Ayo Dosunmu might be called on to become a Wolves hero
This will be the game Ayo is remembered for in NBA Playoffs lore, but he was splendid in Game 3, too — scoring 25 points on 10-15 shooting — and will be asked to carry a considerable load going forward, as well. It's going to be nearly impossible to top what he did tonight, and that's fine. His status as a cult hero in Minnesota is already locked in. So shoud be his status as the most important transaction the Timberwolves make this offseason, no matter how the playoffs shake out going forward.
"We gotta come out and dig even deeper," Dosunmu said after the game. I'm not quite sure how that's possible for him specifically, but I'm excited to find out.
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