Timberwolves Top Lakers for 4th Win in a Row

When basketball fans think of the top teams in the NBA Western Conference, the Warriors, Rockets, Spurs, and Thunder typically come to mind. The Minnesota Timberwolves certainly have not been among that group in recent years; they haven’t been to the NBA playoffs since the 2003-4 season, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals. In fact, the Timberwolves haven’t even reached the .500 mark since then, and finished 31-51 last season.

That is beginning to change. Minnesota made a number of moves in the off season that are paying off. Shooting guard Jimmy Butler was picked up in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. Point guard Jeff Teague was signed away from the Indiana Pacers as a free agent, as was Oklahoma City power forward Taj Gibson. Those three players joined Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, creating a formidable starting five.

So far, it’s paying off. The Timberwolves beat the Lakers 121-104 on Christmas Day to improve to 21-13, placing them fourth in the Western Conference, and they are leading the Northwest Division by two games over Oklahoma City. Butler and Gibson each scored 23 points while Towns added 21 with 10 rebounds. The victory was the fourth in row for Minnesota, and seventh in their last 10 games. That 14 year playoff drought will likely come to end.