The mood in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ locker room is as positive as it has been all season. Now, the challenge for the team is to keep the good times rolling as the playoffs approach.
Minnesota will put its five-game winning streak on the line when it tips off against the Orlando Magic on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves have not lost since Feb. 22, and coach Chris Finch said the team’s joy is a byproduct of its recent success on the court.
Finch shared a comment from his boss, Timberwolves executive Tim Connelly.
“At this point, there’s no unhappy wins,” Finch said as he paraphrased his conversation with Connelly. “If you didn’t play well or get your shots, or maybe you didn’t get this or that, the minutes, you had a tough night, be happy with the win and you move on. … That’s what we keep preaching: No unhappy wins around here.”
The results speak for themselves. Minnesota’s five-game winning streak has included victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert praised his teammates for playing determined defense.
“When we play with that kind of edge, it’s super fun. It’s scary,” Gobert said. “It feels right. It feels like this is a team that’s hungry for something bigger.”
Orlando also is hungry to keep a winning streak alive. The Magic have won back-to-back games against the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks to move five games above .500.
In their win over Dallas, Wendell Carter Jr. made a go-ahead dunk with 1.4 seconds to go.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the late basket proved every second counts in each game.
“I think there’s lessons you learn in it, because we made some mistakes before then,” Mosley said. “But that’s the beauty of the game — that you have to play 48 minutes. I think if we’re saying anything about the game, it has to be that.
“You play 48 minutes all the way through no matter what the heck is happening. … I think it’s a big portion of us just continuing to play all the way through. So that’s the momentum that we’re going to continue to need to play 48 no matter what happens within the game because it is a game of runs.”
Paolo Banchero leads the Magic with 22.0 points per game on 45.8% shooting. Franz Wagner ranks second in scoring but is out with a sprained ankle, and Desmond Bane is third with 20.2 points per game on 48.5% shooting.
Anthony Edwards is the Timberwolves’ top scorer with 29.5 points per game on 49.5% shooting. Julius Randle (21.5 points per game) and Jaden McDaniels (15.1) follow close behind.
Ayo Dosunmu will look to take another step forward in his 11th game since joining Minnesota. The former Chicago Bull is averaging 11.6 points a game with his new team.
“Each and every game, I’m looking to get better,” Dosunmu said. “I know it won’t happen in one game. It’s going to take some time. But each and every game I’m learning, getting more comfortable and having fun. I feel like the team is, also.”
