On February 12, 2025, the Minnesota Timberwolves watched their chances slip through their fingers as they faced the Milwaukee Bucks, losing 103-101. Despite missing their lead stars, the Bucks managed to secure the win due to the Timberwolves' struggles on both ends of the court.
The Timberwolves, currently positioned seventh in the Western Conference (30-24), were desperate to find consistency after their recent hiccup—losing 128-107 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The stark reality was evident as they shot only 40% from the field and continued to flounder from beyond the arc at just 30%.
Anthony Edwards, who had recently showcased his scoring abilities, was unable to find his range, tallying 28 points on 10-33 shooting. Edwards had found himself on fire with three consecutive 40-point outings prior to this game, but against the Bucks, he fell flat, shooting just 23% from three-point territory. “I thought it was going in,” he reflected on his final three-point attempt as time expired.
Meanwhile, the Bucks were far from full strength, missing their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and facing uncertainty with Damian Lillard, who was declared questionable due to a hamstring injury. Despite this, Milwaukee had players like Brook Lopez and Gary Trent Jr. stepping up their game, impacting the flow of the match.
First-year Timberwolves coach Chris Finch expressed his frustration at his team's lack of execution, stating, “We need more organization. We let this one get away.” His lament plays to the heart of the issue—the Timberwolves frequently began games slowly, evident once again with their poor 9-27 start from the field.
Despite trailing early on, the Timberwolves were not without their sparks. Rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. and veteran Joe Ingles brought much-needed energy to the court, contributing strategically during the game’s progression. Finch noted the importance of these players stepping up but also recognized the intimidating task at hand against the Bucks.
For the Bucks, even without their star players, the combination of leftover talent made them formidable. Damian Lillard’s absence left the team with additional pressure; nevertheless, Bobby Portis played aggressively, exploiting mismatches and drawing fouls on Gobert, forcing the defensive anchor out of the paint.
The first quarter ended with the Bucks holding a 12-point lead, much of this thanks to their deft shooting. Finch called out his team for making it too easy for the Bucks' shooters, saying, “We have to make them earn it.” With the Wolves’ defense appearing lackadaisical, Milwaukee took advantage, ending the first quarter with impressive scoring.
Shooting woes continued to plague the Wolves, leading them down to clutch moments where they had to exert substantial effort just to stay competitive. The scoring output reflected their earlier woes, culminating with the Timberwolves falling behind to the Bucks, who ballooned the lead to as much as 16 points.
Finch’s adjustments during the game hinted at his hope for momentum shifts, though the team struggled to find rhythm with younger guards such as Rob Dillingham, who had not been producing to expectations. Finch emphasized the need for Dillingham to develop his point-guard skills, shedding light on the systemic challenges the Wolves were facing.
Despite showing promise, particularly with Gobert’s double-double performance of 20 points and 14 rebounds, it was insufficient to outplay the Bucks. After the game, Gobert expressed his disappointment about the officiated fouls but retained focus on how they could have controlled their own court performance: “There’s so many plays... we only needed one of them to win.”
With the clock winding down and the game tied, it was Edwards who took the shot—his three-pointer clanked off the rim, sealing the game and marking another missed opportunity. “We had our chances, but we weren’t able to execute,” said Gobert, who continued taking responsibility post-game.
Looking forward, the Timberwolves faced more challenges as they prepared to square off against the Oklahoma City Thunder next. They will need to regroup, particularly concentrating on execution and minimizing turnovers. Finch will have to dig deep to rejuvenate the energy of his squad, especially leading up to the All-Star break.
Overall, the Timberwolves find themselves at yet another crossroads—a moment for reflection before the season pushes on. They have to learn from this heartbreaker against the Bucks and channel their frustrations to ignite future performances.