The Wolves Win In New Orleans Shows How Dangerous They Could Become

Image courtesy of Stephen Lew-Imagn Images By Eric Forga - 18 hours ago The Minnesota Timberwolves are discovering how much responsibility the rest of their roster can handle without Anthony Edwards , and that could make them an extremely difficult playoff opponent when their star returns. Friday night's 115-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans offered another encouraging example. Minnesota improved to 7-3 and extended its winning streak to three games, with Ayo Dosunmu , Jaden McDaniels and LaMelo Ball supplying the scoring punch. Dosunmu finished with 26 points, McDaniels added 23, and Ball contributed 22, including nine during the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. The key takeaway wasn't that Minnesota won. It was that they won with multiple players accepting responsibility rather than waiting for one superstar to rescue them. Edwards’ absence presents a substantial challenge. He's recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and was expected to miss at least two months. That leaves Minnesota needing more than occasional contributions from its supporting cast. The Wolves need dependable creation, scoring, and decision-making from players whose responsibilities have expanded. They got that against New Orleans. Dosunmu produced 26 points on only 14 shots, including a 4-for-6 performance from three-point range. His efficiency helped Minnesota generate offense without requiring many possessions. Meanwhile, Ball supplied the late-game initiative, attacking when the Wolves needed someone to take control. Those are encouraging developments for a team thinking beyond November. If Dosunmu can remain a credible scoring threat and Ball can consistently organize difficult possessions, Edwards will eventually return to an offense with more answers. Instead of asking him to manufacture every important basket, Minnesota could punish a defense in several ways. The Timberwolves didn't play flawlessly, which makes the result useful in a different way. New Orleans erased Minnesota’s lead with a 12-0 third-quarter run and entered the fourth ahead 79-77. However, the Wolves responded by outscoring the Pelicans 38-30 over the final period. They won despite missing 10 free throws and shooting 43.2% from the field. There's a distinction between playing beautifully and playing effectively under pressure. Minnesota did enough of the latter. Ball’s fourth-quarter scoring helped change the game, but the supporting contributions mattered too. Trey Lyles collected 13 rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga supplied offensive rebounding and defensive work against Zion Williamson . The Wolves also persevered after Joan Beringer suffered a broken nose and could not return after halftime. That collective response underpins the playoff argument. When an opponent disrupts the first option, a dangerous team needs another player ready to make the next play. The optimistic interpretation is straightforward: these difficult minutes could strengthen the team Edwards eventually rejoins. Ball is getting opportunities to direct close games. Dosunmu is proving he can shoulder a larger scoring burden. Other rotation players are being asked to contribute rather than remain spectators. None of that guarantees postseason success. Minnesota still needs cleaner execution, better free-throw shooting and, ultimately, a healthy Edwards. One November victory cannot establish what this team will become in the spring. But it can reveal possibilities. If the Wolves maintain this shared responsibility, Edwards return would add their premier weapon to a group already learning how to win without him. That's considerably more threatening than simply restoring a missing scorer. Minnesota’s challenge is to sustain the habits. Do that, and the Wolves could enter the playoffs as a team opponents cannot neutralize by focusing on one man. By Eric Forga Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota timberwolves nba