Takeaways: Timberwolves' losing streak ends with 108-83 victory over shorthanded Warriors

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 27, 2026

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The Golden State Warriors did the Timberwolves a favor prior to their second matchup in two nights. The Warriors sat several key players, with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford and De’Anthony joining the previously injured Jonathan Kuminga and Jimmy Butler as out.

They handed the Wolves a chance to end their five-game losing streak, which the Wolves did in a 108-83 victory.

While the Wolves won, they won’t be sending the game film from this one to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

The Wolves committed 23 turnovers but had six players in double figures, and their defense shut down a Warriors team short on firepower.

Julius Randle had 18 points to lead the balanced scoring attack for the Wolves, though he accounted for six turnovers. Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 17 rebounds while Bones Hyland added a needed scoring punch in the first half with 17 points.

Anthony Edwards sat out for the Wolves because of right foot injury maintenance on the second night of a back-to-back, his 10th missed game of the season.

What it means

The Wolves needed a win in the worst way after losing five in a row and they got one, even if it wasn’t much of a game. Their problems aren’t solved after this one, considering the quality of competition. But after a tough week-plus, they got back in the column.

They have another back-to-back coming up this week, this time with travel as they go to Dallas on Jan. 28 then back home for a game against Oklahoma City the next day.

How it happened

The Wolves fell behind with an 11-0 run in the first quarter that they ended with the Wolves up 21-20. Randle was off to a 1-for-6 start. But Hyland’s bench scoring injected some needed life while Naz Reid added 10 off the bench.

The Wolves defense kept the shothanded Warriors from getting any rhythm going offensively in holding them to 18 points in the second quarter.

The only question was if the Wolves were going to turn it up offensively at any point. They finally did in the second with a 21-8 spurt. The game was never close after that.

Rookie center Joan Beringer saw some rotation in minutes in the second half after not playing in the previous game.

When the Bones are good

Hyland had his best game of the season (23 points against Milwaukee on Jan. 13) when Edwards was out. Perhaps it was no coincidence that Hyland had another strong game with Edwards sitting. It seems to clarify his role as a scorer as opposed to a point guard looking to straddle the line between setting up the offense and searching for his own scoring.

Edwards sits

Edwards sat out because of right foot injury maintenance. Edwards went through his usual pregame warmup and looked fine but was a late downgrade to questionable about 90 minutes prior to the game. Shortly after that the team announced he was out. Mike Conley started in his place.

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