Just when we think we have this Minnesota Timberwolves team figured out, they go and blow everyone's mind once again. On Monday night, the Wolves were facing the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder for a second consecutive night, after traveling from Minnesota down south to the Sooner State.
The Timberwolves found themselves down as many as 25 points with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter, and they were still trailing by 16 with 3:41 left in the fourth. What ensued after that was tied for the largest comeback in Minnesota franchise history.
A valiant effort spearheaded by not just the Wolves' established veterans but also their young talent won them this game. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham both played fantastically down the stretch in this one, helping put up a 41-point fourth quarter while holding Oklahoma City's prolific offense to just 19 points in the final frame - sending the game to overtime.
After some clutch shots from Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards sealed the deal for Minnesota with an emphatic block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the closing seconds. The Timberwolves walked away with, incredibly, maybe the most impressive win any team in the NBA has earned this season. They became the first team in the history of the league to win after being down 20+ entering the fourth against a team with an .800+ winning percentage on the road.
Tonight the @Timberwolves were:
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 25, 2025
- down by 20+ points entering the 4th
- on the road
- facing a team with an .800+ win pct
No other team in NBA history has been in that situation and come back to win the game.
Minnesota did something no team in NBA history has achieved
The Timberwolves also concluded their regular season series with the Thunder 2-2. Despite all the problems this team has had throughout the season, they showed that while OKC is still the better team on paper, they have what it takes to compete in this matchup. Minnesota had every reason to lie down and just move on to the Lakers matchup on Thursday, but they gritted their teeth and got the job done.
This was simply a jaw-dropping win, there is no other way to put it. No one would have believed this team could put together this kind of historic comeback against what is probably the best team in basketball. The Timberwolves become just the third team this season to defeat the Thunder at least twice, after the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors.
Again, a win like this will serve as a massive confidence booster going forward. Minnesota knows what kind of collective talent they have, but we all saw the passion from Anthony Edwards in his postgame interview. "Them boys keep playing like that, man, we gon' be hard to beat," he said. Defeating a team like that in this kind of fashion validates your image of yourself, and the Wolves know fully the kind of heights they can reach now.