The Minnesota Timberwolves got their second win in a row when they took down the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on Sunday evening. It was the first game Minnesota played on their new city edition court while debuting their city jerseys as well.
Following a week where they struggled on the road in Portland and dropped three straight contests overall, the Wolves have gotten back on track in a big way with close, last-minute victories over playoff-caliber squads in the West. They say that good teams find a way to win, and that is what Minnesota has done in do-or-die situations over the last two games.
Sunday's win was certainly one that required some grit on the Wolves' part. After going down by as many as 16 points, Minnesota took their first lead with 1:09 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. When asked about what contributed to the team's slow start after the game, Anthony Edwards had some thoughts.
"We just got off the road," he said, referencing the team's Friday night game in Sacramento. "And made a 2:30 game. I think everybody was (expletive) sleepy out there early in the game, for real."
The Wolves didn't take their first lead of the game until there was a minute left.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 18, 2024
Slow start was due to the road trip they just got back from and the early start time today, Anthony Edwards says. pic.twitter.com/IHK2wFWp13
Early start time, travel affected Timberwolves according to Edwards
Ant made it clear that he was not looking to make excuses, but stated that he did believe some of the guys were tired early on, and it took them a little bit to get going and be in proper form. Edwards was huge once again with 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting, but Julius Randle was clearly the man of the night.
Minnesota's starting power forward finished with a Timberwolves career-high 35 points while making five three-pointers and dishing out seven assists. It was a masterful performance, all brought together by his clutch shot at the buzzer to put the Wolves over the top.
With former Timberwolf Josh Okogie draped all over him, Randle caught the inbound pass with 2.7 on the clock, took two dribbles, and drained a top-of-the-key three-pointer for the win. It was easily his most memorable moment since joining the team, and one that will stick in the minds of the fanbase.
A win like this one on Sunday can be a big step in the right direction for a team looking for answers like Minnesota. Getting the job done in the clutch and finding ways to pull out a victory are signs of winning habits, and the Timberwolves are making steady progress.