Minnesota is in the midst of the easiest portion of its schedule this season, and the Wolves are taking advantage.
Two nights after blitzing Utah in Minneapolis, the Timberwolves gave the Kings a similar treatment in Sacramento. Minnesota again seized control early and never looked back en route to a 144-117 road victory Sunday in California.
Here are the takeaways from another impressive performance:
Taking care of business
Sacramento is expected to be a cellar dweller in this year’s Western Conference. Particularly coming off a dominant win Friday, these are the types of situations where Minnesota — or anyone, for that matter — would be susceptible to a letdown performance that allowed the Kings to stick around for the majority of the evening.
But Minnesota led by as many as nine in the first quarter, and the lead ballooned to 17 by the break.
The Wolves have handled the likes of Charlotte, Brooklyn, Utah and now Sacramento with relative ease thus far this season by not overlooking opponents, regardless of their league standing. A similar mentality would serve Minnesota well over the next couple weeks as the cupcakes continue to be served.
Gobert goes off
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves blocks a shot by Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on Nov. 09, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Rudy Gobert blocked a Domantas Sabonis shot in the first minute of Sunday’s affair, then grabbed the board and went coast-to-coast. Oftentimes, those situations end in a miscue. But Sunday, Gobert maintained control and scored on the other end.
It was that type of night for the center. Gobert set the tone in the first quarter with his poise and aggression and carried it forward throughout the game.
He finished with 19 points — on 9-for-10 shooting — to go with 12 boards and a gaudy five blocked shots.
After a slow start to the season, the Frenchman is back to flirting with, or achieving, double-doubles on a nightly basis, while serving as a legitimate defensive deterrent in the paint.
Offense hums
Minnesota found a team-wide offensive rhythm in Anthony Edwards’ absence when the guard was out with a hamstring strain, and his return has done nothing to harm the cause.
The Timberwolves continue to play with pace and ball movement. While Edwards has upped his aggression the last two times out — after tallying a 29-point first half Friday, he had 26 points in 30 minutes, even with a slow shooting start, Sunday — Minnesota also continues to find opportunities for its other offensive weapons within the flow of the offense.
Jaden McDaniels’ supreme efficiency rolls out, as he scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting Sunday. He’s now scored 21-plus points in five of Minnesota’s last seven games — shooting 15 for 20 from 3-point range in that span — and has scored in double figures in every game this season.
As a team, the Wolves shot 54% from the field on Sunday, burying 18 triples while also scoring 64 points in the paint. They scored 40 points apiece in the second and third frames.
Minnesota next plays Monday night in Utah.
