Ranking the 10 best games of the Timberwolves regular season
By James Siems
5. November 28 – vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (106-103)
Top Performance(s):
Rudy Gobert – 17 points, 16 rebounds
Troy Brown Jr. – 17 points, 3 3-pointers
While there have been multiple “Naz Reid games” this season, there was only one Troy Brown Jr. game, and it came at a crucial time in the season against a high-quality opponent. Despite missing staring forward McDaniels for the entire game and losing Edwards in the third quarter when he fell on his tailbone, the Timberwolves pulled off a victory against one of the league's hottest teams. Even their 19 turnovers weren’t enough to deny them the victory.
The Timberwolves entered the fourth quarter down two. The final twelve minutes was an epic back-and-forth clash that featured cold-blooded shot-making from MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, stifling interior defense from Gobert, and an unlikely hero.
With the injuries to Edwards and McDaniels, the onus fell on reserve forward Brown Jr.—who had been in and out of the rotation—to deliver. Brown Jr. did just that. He played the entire fourth quarter, scoring twelve points including a deep 3-pointer with a minute to go that prompted a “FROM DULUTH” call from commentator Michael Grady.
While Brown Jr. would be traded from the Timberwolves to the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline, his contribution to a big, early-season win should not be forgotten.