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Timberwolves are emphatically answering a major playoff question

It's safe to say the Wolves have "flipped a switch" and silenced any concerns about their defense.
ByEamon Cassels|
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Nov 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a play against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Nov 10, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts to a play against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

One of the biggest questions regarding the Minnesota Timberwolves' ability to pull off a first-round upset over the Denver Nuggets was whether they could reach another level defensively. In the regular season, the Wolves ranked sixth in defensive rating per Cleaning the Glass, but they struggled with consistency and off-ball engagement. 

To upset the top-ranked Nuggets offense, it was clear the Wolves would have to channel their elite 2024 defense and reach another gear from their regular season play.

Three games into the series, the Wolves have provided the best possible answer to this question. Minnesota is holding the Nuggets to a 107.4 offensive rating -- a far cry from their regular season 122.5 ORTG. They have limited Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, as nobody has ever done before. Undoubtedly, the Wolves' stifling defense has been a key reason why they hold a 2-1 lead. 

The Timberwolves' defense has reached another gear in the playoffs

Rudy Gobert's exceptional one-on-one defense against Jokic and Jaden McDaniels' stellar on-ball defense against Murray have been the biggest stories. Remarkably, as the closest defender, Gobert is holding Jokic to 34.3 percent shooting from the field, and McDaniels is holding Murray to 33.3 percent shooting. 

Beyond these two stellar individual defensive performances, everyone has played swarming and physical defense. They have also forced at a high rate and are averaging an impressive 21.7 transition points. Not only have the Wolves proven that they could replicate their defensive brilliance from 2024, but it looks like they've reached another level.

Gobert and McDaniels are the two players I was least worried about. After all, they remain the Wolves' best two defenders and were consistently great in the regular season. However, I would be lying if I said that I anticipated their isolation defense to be this elite in the playoffs. 

This amazing defense on Jokic and Murray has also helped the Wolves to stay home and limit the Nuggets' other offensive threats. 

Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have also been defending at a high level. Frankly, this was my bigger question with the Wolves' defense, especially with Ant's injury and Randle's general inconsistency.

Thankfully, though, Edwards has been wreaking havoc as a defensive playmaker, averaging 1.7 blocks, and Randle's engagement off-ball has been impressive, and his physicality on the ball has bothered the Nuggets. 

Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo have also been highly disruptive on the perimeter. 

All of this comes together to form a hellacious defense that has been able to shut the water off of the league's most prolific offense. 

Still, the job is far from finished, and the Wolves' defensive intensity must continue for them to close out the series. 

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