Minnesota Timberwolves Snap Skid with Gritty Win Over Short-Handed Warriors 108-83

Sometimes, the schedule breaks your way. Sometimes, the stars align—or in this case, sit out. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team desperate to find its footing after a brutal stretch, Monday night wasn’t about style points. It wasn’t about highlight reels or flashy plays. It was about survival.

Facing a Golden State Warriors squad missing the heart and soul of its dynasty, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally stopped the bleeding, grinding out a 108-83 victory at the Target Center. It snapped a five-game losing streak that had begun to feel heavier with each passing night, a skid that threatened to derail a season that once held so much promise.

The Weight of the Moment

You could feel the tension in Minneapolis before tip-off. The Wolves hadn’t lost five in a row since December 2022, a distant memory that was suddenly feeling uncomfortably current. To make matters worse, they were without their own electric superstar, Anthony Edwards, a late scratch due to a nagging right foot injury.

But the basketball gods offered a reprieve. The Warriors walked onto the floor without Stephen Curry (knee) and Draymond Green (back). No splash, no trash talk, just a depleted roster trying to survive the second night of a back-to-back.

Even then, nothing comes easy when you’re slumping. The game started ugly—a jagged, rhythmic mess that saw the Minnesota Timberwolves miss ten of their first twelve shots. The Warriors, opportunistic despite their depleted ranks, jumped out to a 16-8 lead. For a moment, the groan from the home crowd was audible. Here we go again.

Turning the Tide in the Second Quarter

Then came the shift. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. The Minnesota Timberwolves found a gear defensively that had been missing for weeks. They clamped down, suffocating the Warriors’ reserves and forcing bad shots.

The turnaround started with a spark from the bench. Bones Hyland, playing with the kind of frantic energy that can either save you or sink you, chose salvation. He attacked the rim, converting transition layups that breathed life into a stagnant offense.

But the real haymaker came in the second quarter. The Minnesota Timberwolves exploded on a 21-4 run that completely flipped the script. Julius Randle was the catalyst, pouring in 10 of his team-high 18 points during that stretch. He bullied his way into the paint, finding angles and drawing fouls, playing with a physicality that Golden State simply couldn’t match without Green’s enforcer presence.

By halftime, the scoreboard read 53-38. The relief in the arena was palpable.

Rudy Gobert Anchors the Defense

While Randle and Hyland provided the scoring punch, Rudy Gobert reminded everyone why he is a defensive titan. In a game devoid of offensive flow, Gobert was the constant. He finished with 15 points and a monstrous 17 rebounds, controlling the glass and deterring anyone who dared venture into the paint.

It wasn’t just the numbers; it was the presence. Every time Golden State tried to mount a comeback, there was Gobert, altering a shot or snatching a rebound in traffic. He provided the safety net his team so desperately needed.

Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 15 points apiece, offering balanced scoring that made up for Edwards’ absence. It was a collective exhale, a team-wide realization that they could still win ugly.

A Night to Forget for Golden State

For the Warriors, it was a scheduled loss that felt like one. Without Curry’s gravity or Green’s playmaking, the offense sputtered. They shot a dismal 23.1% from three-point range, a number that would make the Splash Brothers wince.

Quinten Post led them with 13 points, a bright spot in a dark evening, while Brandin Podziemski fought hard for his 12 points and seven boards. But the talent gap, exacerbated by fatigue and injury, was simply too wide to bridge. They looked like a team ready for the flight home.

Looking Ahead: Can the Minnesota Timberwolves Build Momentum?

This win won’t make the highlight shows. It won’t be analyzed for its tactical brilliance. But in the long grind of an NBA season, these are the wins you look back on as turning points.

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t fix all their problems on Monday night. The 23 turnovers are a glaring issue that will get them crushed by a healthy contender. The slow start is a bad habit they need to break. They walked off the court with a W, the losing streak dead and buried.

Now comes the hard part: doing it again. With a trip to Dallas looming, the road doesn’t get any easier. But at least they’re traveling light, having finally shed the weight of a five-game slide.