Minnesota Timberwolves: Great Week, Bench Rising & Western Conference Standings Battle

The Wolves went 3-0 this week, with wins over Portland (124-121), the Clippers (94-88), and Denver (117-108). Jaden McDaniels was the standout against the Blazers, drawing praise from Jamal Crawford, while Ant continued his clutch-time dominance despite some efficiency concerns. The Clippers win featured a gritty fourth-quarter comeback and sparked conversation about the Ant-Finch dynamic after Edwards hit a contested dagger three against his coach's wishes, though both sides say the relationship is strong. The Denver road win was highlighted by what may be Bones Hyland's best game in a Wolves uniform, plus a stellar all-around performance from DDV.The guys dive into the Wolves bench transformation, noting the team is 20-3 when bench players score 36+ points. With the addition of Kyle Anderson (Slo-Mo), the bench depth is looking better than it has all season. They debate whether Slo-Mo will crack 10+ minutes per game and break down how his basketball IQ, defensive versatility, and calming presence fill critical gaps heading into the playoffs.For One Big Thing, the focus turns to the Western Conference standings. Minnesota sits fourth, just percentage points behind Houston for the three seed, with a crucial positioning battle since the three seed likely draws the Lakers or Suns in the first round rather than Denver. Both Tom and Josh predict a 3-0 homestand against Memphis, Toronto, and Orlando to close out the week and potentially grab that third spot outright.