Ant’s Return: Timberwolves Stun NBA-Leading Thunder in Minneapolis

Read Time:2 Minute, 15 Second

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — In a game that felt more like a May playoff battle than a December regular-season matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves (18-10) handed the Oklahoma City Thunder (25-3) just their third loss of the season with a gritty 112-107 victory on Friday night at Target Center.

The night belonged to Anthony Edwards, who returned to the lineup after a three-game absence due to right foot soreness. Edwards looked like he hadn’t missed a beat, delivering a powerhouse performance of 26 points and 12 rebounds. His signature moment came with 38.5 seconds remaining when he stepped into a cold-blooded, go-ahead three-pointer that put Minnesota ahead for good. Edwards then punctuated the win by stealing the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the game’s final possession to seal the result.

Chaos and Conviction

The atmosphere in Minneapolis was electric, fueled by a national broadcast and a brewing rivalry between the two Western Conference heavyweights. The intensity boiled over early when Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was ejected just six minutes into the first quarter after a series of heated arguments with the officiating crew over non-calls.

Despite the early loss of their coach, the Wolves stayed composed. Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid each provided 15 points off the bench, while Rudy Gobert anchored the middle with 14 rebounds and elite rim protection. Julius Randle struggled with his shot (3-of-15) but came through with crucial free throws and 19 points to help Minnesota survive.

SGA’s Masterclass Not Enough

For the defending champion Thunder, the loss marks their second defeat in three games—a rare “slump” for a team that started the season 24-1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sensational, as usual, scoring 35 points and dishing out 7 assists, but he found little help late in the fourth quarter.

The Glass Battle: Minnesota’s size proved to be the difference, as they out-rebounded the Thunder and secured vital second-chance opportunities.
The Defensive Clamp: While OKC shot a respectable 93% from the free-throw line, they were held to just 36.6% from the field, as Minnesota’s length bothered Jalen Williams (6-of-16) and Chet Holmgren (4-of-9) throughout the night.

By the Numbers

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
OKC Thunder	33	18	34	22	107
MN Timberwolves	23	25	35	29	112

The Timberwolves have now sent a clear message to the rest of the league: when healthy, they are one of the few teams capable of slowing down the Thunder’s historic pace. Minnesota moves into a tie for second in the Northwest Division, while OKC still maintains a comfortable lead atop the Western Conference.