The Minnesota Timberwolves are struggling to find their momentum, suffering a frustrating home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. This skid is particularly concerning as it represents their first four-game losing streak since November 2024. A potential fifth loss against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday would signify their worst stretch since December 2022. The Timberwolves’ earlier blowout victory against the Milwaukee Bucks now feels like a distant memory, occurring just ten days ago.
Several factors contribute to the Timberwolves’ recent ineffectiveness. Star player Anthony Edwards, despite a stellar 55-point game against the San Antonio Spurs, has seen his performance dip considerably. Over the last two outings, he has managed just 20 of 53 shooting from the field (38 percent) and a disappointing 6 of 23 (26 percent) from three-point range. His defense has also faltered at critical moments, evidenced by leaving Coby White open for a key late three-pointer against the Bulls. Julius Randle has put up an average of 26.2 points during the losing streak, but his -25 plus-minus rating highlights his struggles with turnovers and defensive lapses that have led to easy baskets for opponents.
However, Edwards and Randle are not the Wolves’ primary issues; the lack of production from their bench is a more pressing concern. In their loss to the Bulls, the bench players – Mike Conley, Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland, and Joan Beringer – combined for just 8 points on 3-of-15 shooting while logging only 41 minutes. During the current losing streak, non-Reid bench players have played a total of 195 minutes and contributed merely 35 points, averaging just under 9 points per game on a dismal 37 percent shooting.
Conley, who recently came under scrutiny for poor performances, managed to score only 3 points in 14 minutes against the Bulls, bringing his season shooting percentage below 34 percent at age 38. Meanwhile, Hyland’s output has plummeted following his 21-point game against the Bucks, tallying only 12 points in the last four games. Clark’s offensive struggles have also become evident, with a woeful shooting percentage of 29 percent from three-point range this season.
Adding to the Timberwolves’ woes, rookie center Joan Beringer is only being utilized for minimal minutes unless starting center Rudy Gobert or Naz Reid are unavailable. The pressure is mounting for President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly to act before the February 5 trade deadline, now less than two weeks away. The Timberwolves need to secure a bench guard who can reliably contribute offensively, addressing their current lack of scoring depth.
With the playoffs approaching, it is crucial for the Timberwolves to adjust their roster to enhance their overall performance. As Minnesota looks ahead, the hope remains that they can turn things around, bolster their bench, and regain their competitive edge.