Timberwolves have seven score in double figures to top Kings in playoff atmosphere

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Maybe it's time to recalibrate who the Timberwolves are and what they might accomplish this season.

A team that fumbled its way through much of the season, a team that lacked basketball smarts, fundamentals and a painful lack of focus and late-game execution, is suddenly doing all the right things at the time it has needed to the most.

The Wolves pulled off a 119-115 victory over the Kings and completed a stunning set of wins on back-to-back nights against Golden State and Sacramento.

It prompted the typically candid center Naz Reid to declare the team's confidence was at an "all-time high."

"Everybody, 1 through 15 is ready to hoop. Everybody's supporting each other. Coach's coaching has been really great. Even the support from the fans when we're away, all that stuff is going to help us make that playoff push and finish out this season strong."

Just when it seemed like their season could careen off the rails with a difficult West Coast swing against teams above them in the standings, the Wolves have picked up a pair of wins to inch up to the No. 6 slot in the Western Conference, an important marker that would have them bypass the play-in tournament and head straight to the playoffs.

The Wolves got Monday's victory against the most efficient offense in the NBA without Karl-Anthony Towns, who had lifted the Wolves to victory in their previous two games. The Wolves have now won four straight as Towns sat out for a maintenance and recovery day as he ramps back up his activity following his prolonged absence due to a right calf injury.

Monday's win was a total team effort. The Wolves had seven players score between 14 and 20 points, with Jaden McDaniels accounting for 20 a night after he scored just one in a foul-plagued performance against Golden State.

"Jaden playing at a high level like that, we're going to be tough to beat," Reid said. "He's our X-factor. He had a tough game [Sunday], backed it up today on the back-to-back. That's big-time play."

McDaniels came out with renewed energy and hit his first six shots to set the tone for himself and the Wolves, who shot 51% on the night.

"I feel like everyone is super confident in themselves and their game," McDaniels said. "It don't matter for us who shoots the last shot or who's making the right read, I feel like we're all capable and versatile enough to be a good team."

Jaylen Nowell provided some needed scoring pop off the bench with 14 points. Kyle Anderson was his typical dependable self with 15 points and 11 assists while Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Anthony Edwards (17 points, 6-for-15 shooting) still is rounding into form following a sprained right ankle, but he hit a key three to put the Wolves up seven with just under six minutes to play. The Wolves also tied a season low with six turnovers.

Then there was McDaniels' good buddy Reid, who continued his torrid play off the bench. Reid seemed as if he might be stuck on the bench or see a big reduction in his minutes when Towns came back. Instead, Reid is assembling one of the most impressive stretches of his career. He had 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Over his last seven games, Reid is averaging 18.6 points per game, all off the bench.

"Whatever I can do to help this team win," Reid said. "Each and every year I've been on this team, we've gotten better. You can see the will and the want on this team that we have right now. … I feel like we can go really far if we all continue to do what we're doing right now."

What they're doing is playing sound team basketball when that has lacked at important times throughout the season.

That was evident in the final minutes when the Wolves outplayed the Kings. They crashed the offensive glass for key rebounds that extended possessions and drained the clock. They got stops, and finished those possessions off by getting the rebound. They overcame a strong night from Sacramento's two All-Stars, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, who had 29 and 24 points, respectively.

They took a crowd that was ready to celebrate the Kings clinching a playoff berth and sent them home early.

"We just have guys that are on a mission and we have adversity every night," Gobert said. "A lot of things don't go our way every game, but we stay together and stay locked in."

The Wolves have looked like a smarter team of late. Gobert joked that they, "are about three, four years older than we were a few months ago. And I'm not talking about Mike Conley."

It's hard not to look at the difference Conley has brought in that area since coming to the team in early February. Conley had 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting and came up with two clutch defensive boards in the final minutes.

"This Minnesota Timberwolves organization is looking to win," Conley said. "... I want to play until I'm 40 if I can be a part of these situations where we can compete at the highest level against the best competition in the world and do it with some guys like this."

As he said that, Conley turned to the two players remaining in the locker room, Edwards and Anderson. Anderson sat back in his chair, seeming relaxed and relieved the Wolves had won. Edwards still seemed like he had energy to play and was talking up a storm with the locker room attendants. Next up is Phoenix and a likely date with a returning Kevin Durant, but the Wolves' have never felt more like they could beat anyone in the league at any arena than they do right now.

"We play every game like there's no tomorrow," Gobert said. "And that's the mindset that we need regardless of who's playing, who's not playing."