Timberwolves Grit Out Ugly 103-100 Win Over Bucks as Edwards Seals Late Drama

There are games where the rim looks like the ocean, and the ball flows like water. And then there are nights like Sunday at the Target Center, where every bucket feels like pulling teeth and rhythm is a rumor.

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, this wasn’t a masterpiece. It was a grind.

Anthony Edwards, despite battling a shooting slump that would have sidelined the confidence of lesser stars, willed his way to 24 points to lead the Timberwolves past the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-100. It marked the Timberwolves’ ninth victory in their last 11 games, a testament to a team finding ways to win even when the game plan goes sideways.

Edwards Finds a Way When Shots Won’t Fall

You look at the box score—7-for-24 from the field, a brutal 2-for-11 from deep—and you might assume it was a night to forget for Edwards. But superstardom isn’t defined by the nights you can’t miss; it’s defined by the nights you can’t make anything, yet you still demand the ball with the game on the line.

With the Wolves clinging to a precarious lead and the clock ticking under 30 seconds, the Bucks were threatening to steal one on the road. The offense had stagnated. The crowd was tense. Edwards didn’t settle. He put his head down, drove hard into the teeth of the defense, and converted a tough driving finger-roll layup with 21 seconds left. That bucket pushed the lead to six and effectively put the game on ice, rendering Kevin Porter Jr.’s buzzer-beating three irrelevant.

“He’s got that short memory you need,” said Wolves head coach Chris Finch post-game.

A Tale of Two Halves for Minnesota

Early on, it looked like the Timberwolves were sleepwalking. The first half was an exercise in frustration for the home crowd. Minnesota missed its first 13 attempts from 3-point range, a staggering drought that allowed Milwaukee to build a comfortable lead.

The Bucks, led by a resurgent Kevin Porter Jr. (24 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), looked poised to snap their losing streak. They took a 60-48 lead into the locker room, capitalizing on Minnesota’s cold shooting and sluggish energy. Porter Jr. was electric in the first half, punishing the Wolves’ defense and setting up teammates.

But the third quarter brought a different energy.

The Timberwolves mounted a furious 25-8 run, erasing a 16-point deficit and turning the arena noise from murmurs of concern to roars of approval. The catalyst? An unlikely spark off the bench and a veteran finding his stroke.

DiVincenzo and Shannon Jr. Spark the Bench Mob

While Edwards struggled to find the net, Donte DiVincenzo stepped up against his former team. He poured in 18 points, including four crucial 3-pointers. During that massive third-quarter swing, DiVincenzo drilled back-to-back triples that seemed to lift the lid off the basket for the entire roster.

Then there was Terrence Shannon Jr.

With the game hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter, Shannon Jr. delivered a sequence that Wolves fans won’t soon forget. He buried three consecutive 3-pointers, the last of which gave Minnesota an 89-85 lead with just under eight minutes remaining. It was the kind of fearless shooting that swings momentum permanently.

“That’s just big-time confidence,” Edwards said of his teammate.

Gobert Makes History on the Boards

Amidst the comeback chaos, Rudy Gobert was doing what Rudy Gobert does: dominating the paint. The French center finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds.

But one board mattered more than the others. With his performance Sunday, Gobert became just the 45th player in NBA history to eclipse the 10,000 career rebound mark. It’s a milestone that underscores his decade-long dominance as one of the league’s premier interior forces.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Gobert said.

Looking Ahead: Wolves’ Resilience Tested

The win wasn’t without cost. Jaden McDaniels, the team’s defensive lynchpin, exited the game with left hip pain and did not return. His status will be a major storyline to watch in the coming days. However, the return of veteran point guard Mike Conley from a four-game absence provided a steadying hand, as he dished out key assists during the fourth-quarter rally.

For Milwaukee, the loss stings. They wasted a near triple-double from Porter Jr. and strong outings from Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins (16 points each). Losing three straight is tough; losing a game you led by 16 on the road is gut-wrenching.

The Timberwolves now sit in a prime position, proving they can win ugly. As the season deepens, that trait might be more valuable than any shooting percentage.