Timberwolves start off year doing something that was a struggle for them last season

While the Timberwolves went 16 games over .500 last season (49-33), their record wasn’t nearly as good when the final score was a close one. They played 36 games where the final margin was seven points or less. In those contests, Minnesota was a subpar 16-20.

That is somewhat surprising, being that the Wolves roster has one of the top go-to guys in crunch time in Anthony Edwards. While it’s just one game, Minnesota showed that they are helping to buck that trend from last season after their 118-114 victory over the Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

1-0 start in close games

With the Timberwolves' struggles in finishing out close games last season, it had to be a sigh of relief for them and their fanbase to see them win one to start off this year. A four-point win by Minnesota didn't look to be the case for much of the outing. The Wolves trailed after each of the first three quarters: down 35-33 after 1, 61-57 at halftime, and 95-88 after three.

The final 12 minutes saw the Timberwolves outscore the Trail Blazers 30-19. A Jerami Grant 3-pointer gave Portland an eight-point lead with 9:14 remaining. A 23-11 run by Minnesota from that point on helped them secure their 4-point victory.

Some timely shot-making, including from beyond the arc, gave the Timberwolves the come-from-behind win. They went 3-3 from 3-point territory over the last 3:36, with two makes coming from Edwards and 1 from Jaden McDaniels. Edwards also provided the dagger, putting an elite defender in Toumani Camara on skates, before sinking the 21-footer that gave Minnesota a four-point edge with 6.8 seconds left.

Confidence booster after last season's struggles

It would behoove the Timberwolves to grab a few close victories to begin the season. In a Western Conference stacked with good-to-great teams, it would be the ultimate confidence booster that Minnesota can pull the game out against one of them if the score is tight near the end.

Again, there is no reason for them to repeat last season's struggles in close affairs when Edwards should be one of the game's ultimate closers. In Game 1, he was just that. He made all four of his attempts in the fourth quarter comeback and scored 10 points.

It was all the more impressive being that the 24-year-old was listed as questionable due to back spasms, and because Edwards has typically struggled in season openers.