Randle, Timberwolves dismantle Bucks in wire-to-wire rout 139-106
Sometimes, the box score lies. Sometimes, it tells a partial truth. But on Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum, the numbers screamed the whole story loud and clear: The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t just lose; they were systematically dismantled.
Led by a masterful 29-point performance from Julius Randle, the Minnesota Timberwolves stormed into Milwaukee and left with a 139-106 victory that felt even more lopsided than the final score suggests. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. It was a reminder that even without their brightest star and their defensive anchor, this Wolves team has teeth.
The narrative coming into the night was about who wasn’t on the floor. Anthony Edwards, the electric heart of the Timberwolves’ offense, was sidelined for maintenance on his right foot. Rudy Gobert, the towering defensive presence, was serving a one-game suspension. Conventional wisdom suggested the Bucks, playing at home, would feast on a depleted roster.
Instead, the Timberwolves flipped the script before the popcorn was even warm.
A Historic First Half
From the opening tip, the Timberwolves played with a frenetic energy that Milwaukee simply couldn’t match. They didn’t just shoot the ball; they scorched the nets. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Wolves had hung 76 points on the board—a franchise record for a first half on the road.
The lead was 31 points at the break. Thirty-one.
Randle was the catalyst. He bullied his way into the paint, hit step-back jumpers, and found open shooters with ease, finishing with 8 rebounds and 6 assists to go with his team-high scoring. But he wasn’t alone. Naz Reid, stepping up in Gobert’s absence, was a revelation, pouring in 19 points while battling in the trenches.
“We knew we had guys down,” Reid said postgame, the sweat still glistening on his forehead. “But that just means there’s more opportunity. We didn’t come here to survive. We came to attack.”
And attack they did. It was an offensive clinic that left the Bucks’ defense chasing ghosts for 48 minutes.
Bucks Searching for Answers
For Milwaukee, the night was a nightmare they couldn’t wake up from. Giannis Antetokounmpo did his part, putting up 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. But basketball is a team sport, and the Greek Freak found himself on an island.
The Bucks’ defense, usually a point of pride, was nonexistent. Rotations were slow. Closeouts were lazy. They allowed the Timberwolves to get comfortable early, and once an NBA team finds its rhythm, putting the genie back in the bottle is nearly impossible.
“We didn’t respect them,” a frustrated Doc Rivers seemed to imply with his postgame demeanor.
The loss drops Milwaukee to 17-23, a record that is starting to set off alarm bells in Wisconsin. This was supposed to be a bounce-back game after a mixed road trip. Instead, it raised serious questions about the team’s depth and defensive identity.
Unsung Heroes Step Up
While Randle and Reid will grab the headlines, the beauty of this Timberwolves win lay in the contributions from the margins.
Bones Hyland was electric off the bench, providing a spark that turned into a wildfire. He dropped a season-high 23 points, playing with joy and confidence that was infectious. Every time the Bucks tried to mount a semblance of a comeback, Hyland was there to hit a dagger three or drive into the lane for a crafty finish.
Then there was the rookie, Joan Beringer. Thrust into extended minutes due to Gobert’s suspension, the 6-foot-11 center didn’t just hold his own; he thrived. Beringer posted career highs across the board with 13 points and 5 rebounds in 30 minutes of action. It was the kind of performance that earns a player trust from the coaching staff long after the starters return.
The Road Ahead
For the Timberwolves, this win is a massive confidence booster. To walk into an opposing arena without two of your best players and win by 33 points is the stuff of championship contenders. It shows a depth and a system that works regardless of the personnel. At 27-14, they are keeping pace with the heavy hitters in the West, sitting just behind Oklahoma City and Denver in the standings.
They now head to Houston on Friday with momentum on their side and a healthy roster likely returning.
For the Bucks, the soul-searching begins now. They travel to San Antonio on Thursday, desperate to wash the taste of this blowout out of their mouths. But in the NBA, memory is short, and the schedule is unforgiving. If they don’t fix the defensive lapses that were exposed on Tuesday, it’s going to be a long winter in Milwaukee.
But on this night, the story was exclusively the Timberwolves.
