2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season

2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach	Chris Finch
General manager	Sachin Gupta
Owner(s)	Glen Taylor
Arena	Target Center
Results
Record	46–36 (.561)
Place	Division: 3rd (Northwest) Conference: 7th (Western)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Bally Sports North
Radio	WCCO

The 2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season is the 33rd and current season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On August 20, 2021, the NBA announced that the regular season for the league will begin October 19, 2021 and will feature the normal 82-game schedule. On September 22, 2021, general manager Gersson Rosas was fired, and was subsequently replaced by Sachin Gupta.

With a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, the Timberwolves clinched their first winning season since 2018, and only their second winning season since 2005. After a win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the Play-In Tournament on April 12, 2022, the Timberwolves clinched their first playoff berth since 2018.

Previous season

See also: 2020–21 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The Timberwolves concluded the 2020–21 season with 23–49 record, finishing last in the Northwest Division and thirteenth in the Western Conference.

NBA Draft

Main article: 2021 NBA draft

Minnesota did not hold any picks in the 2021 NBA draft.

Roster

Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G/F 9 Alexander-Walker, Nickeil 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998-09-02 Virginia Tech G 22 Clark, Jaylen (TW) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-10-13 UCLA G 10 Conley, Mike Jr. 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1987-10-11 Ohio State G 4 Dillingham, Rob 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2005-01-04 Kentucky G 0 DiVincenzo, Donte 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1997-01-31 Villanova G 5 Edwards, Anthony 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 2001-08-05 Georgia C 14 Edwards, Jesse (TW) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 2000-03-18 West Virginia F/C 55 Garza, Luka 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 243 lb (110 kg) 1998-12-27 Iowa C 27 Gobert, Rudy 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 258 lb (117 kg) 1992-06-26 France G/F 7 Ingles, Joe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1987-10-02 Australia F 3 McDaniels, Jaden 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2000-09-29 Washington F 33 Miller, Leonard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2003-11-26 Fort Erie (CAN) F 8 Minott, Josh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2002-11-25 Memphis G 13 Newton, Tristen (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-04-26 Connecticut F 30 Randle, Julius 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1994-11-29 Kentucky F/C 11 Reid, Naz 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 264 lb (120 kg) 1999-08-26 LSU G/F 00 Shannon, Terrence Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2000-07-30 Illinois

Head coach Chris Finch Assistant coach(es) Nathan Bubes Moses Ehambe Kevin Hanson Chris Hines Max Lefevre Jeff Newton Micah Nori Pablo Prigioni Elston Turner Corliss Williamson Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate (TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Last transaction: January 3, 2025

Standings

Division

Northwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Utah Jazz	49	33	.598	–	29‍–‍12	20‍–‍21	15–1	82
x – Denver Nuggets	48	34	.585	1.0	23‍–‍18	25‍–‍16	6–10	82
x – Minnesota Timberwolves	46	36	.561	3.0	26‍–‍15	20‍–‍21	12–4	82
Portland Trail Blazers	27	55	.329	22.0	17‍–‍24	10‍–‍31	1–15	82
Oklahoma City Thunder	24	58	.293	25.0	12‍–‍29	12‍–‍29	6–10	82

Conference

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	z – Phoenix Suns *	64	18	.780	–	82
2	y – Memphis Grizzlies *	56	26	.683	8.0	82
3	x – Golden State Warriors	53	29	.646	11.0	82
4	x – Dallas Mavericks	52	30	.634	12.0	82
5	y – Utah Jazz *	49	33	.598	15.0	82
6	x – Denver Nuggets	48	34	.585	16.0	82
7	x – Minnesota Timberwolves	46	36	.561	18.0	82
8	pi – Los Angeles Clippers	42	40	.512	22.0	82
9	x – New Orleans Pelicans	36	46	.439	28.0	82
10	pi − San Antonio Spurs	34	48	.415	30.0	82
11	Los Angeles Lakers	33	49	.402	31.0	82
12	Sacramento Kings	30	52	.366	34.0	82
13	Portland Trail Blazers	27	55	.329	37.0	82
14	Oklahoma City Thunder	24	58	.293	40.0	82
15	Houston Rockets	20	62	.244	44.0	82

Game log

Preseason

2021 preseason game log Total: 3–1 (Home: 1-0; Road: 2-1)
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 1–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 4 New Orleans W 117–114 D'Angelo Russell (19) Towns, Vanderbilt (7) Patrick Beverley (6) Target Center 5,715 1–0 2 October 8 @ Denver W 114–112 (OT) Malik Beasley (13) Jarred Vanderbilt (8) D'Angelo Russell (6) Ball Arena 11,927 2–0 3 October 11 @ L.A. Clippers W 128–100 D'Angelo Russell (19) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) D'Angelo Russell (9) Toyota Arena 4,850 3–0 4 October 14 @ Brooklyn L 101–107 Anthony Edwards (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Barclays Arena 11,210 3–1
2021–22 season schedule

Regular season

2021–22 game log Total: 46–36 (Home: 26–15; Road: 20–21)
October: 3–2 (home: 2–2; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 20 Houston W 124–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (7) Target Center 16,079 1–0 2 October 23 New Orleans W 96–89 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Anthony Edwards (9) Patrick Beverley (6) Target Center 15,343 2–0 3 October 25 New Orleans L 98–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Target Center 14,435 2–1 4 October 27 @ Milwaukee W 113–108 D'Angelo Russell (29) Jarred Vanderbilt (13) Patrick Beverley (7) Fiserv Forum 17,341 3–1 5 October 30 Denver L 91–93 Malik Beasley (18) Anthony Edwards (11) D'Angelo Russell (6) Target Center 17,136 3–2
November: 8–8 (home: 5–5; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 6 November 1 Orlando L 97–115 Anthony Edwards (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Target Center 14,744 3–3 7 November 3 L.A. Clippers L 115–126 Anthony Edwards (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Patrick Beverley (8) Target Center 15,386 3–4 8 November 5 L.A. Clippers L 84–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Towns, Vanderbilt (8) Jordan McLaughlin (5) Target Center 17,136 3–5 9 November 7 @ Memphis L 118–125 (OT) Anthony Edwards (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) D'Angelo Russell (7) FedExForum 12,416 3–6 10 November 10 @ Golden State L 110–123 Anthony Edwards (48) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Beverley, Russell (7) Chase Center 18,064 3–7 11 November 12 @ L.A. Lakers W 107–83 Karl-Anthony Towns (29) Beverley, Towns (7) D'Angelo Russell (7) Staples Center 18,997 4–7 12 November 13 @ L.A. Clippers L 102–129 Anthony Edwards (21) Anthony Edwards (9) D'Angelo Russell (8) Staples Center 15,285 4–8 13 November 15 Phoenix L 94–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Anthony Edwards (6) Target Center 16,279 4–9 14 November 17 Sacramento W 107–97 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Jarred Vanderbilt (7) Beverley, Russell (7) Target Center 13,108 5–9 15 November 18 San Antonio W 115–90 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Towns, Vanderbilt (12) Anthony Edwards (6) Target Center 13,572 6–9 16 November 20 Memphis W 138–95 D'Angelo Russell (28) Jarred Vanderbilt (10) D'Angelo Russell (5) Target Center 17,136 7–9 17 November 22 @ New Orleans W 110–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (8) Smoothie King Center 15,689 8–9 18 November 24 Miami W 113–101 Anthony Edwards (33) Jarred Vanderbilt (15) Edwards, Russell (6) Target Center 17,136 9–9 19 November 26 @ Charlotte L 115–133 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Jarred Vanderbilt (8) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Spectrum Center 19,314 9–10 20 November 27 @ Philadelphia W 121–120 (OT) Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Jarred Vanderbilt (14) D'Angelo Russell (8) Wells Fargo Center 21,011 10–10 21 November 29 Indiana W 100–98 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Anthony Edwards (9) D'Angelo Russell (11) Target Center 14,191 11–10
December: 5–9 (home: 3–4; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 22 December 1 @ Washington L 107–115 Karl-Anthony Towns (34) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (9) Capital One Arena 15,318 11–11 23 December 3 @ Brooklyn L 105–110 D'Angelo Russell (21) Jarred Vanderbilt (15) D'Angelo Russell (11) Barclays Center 17,732 11–12 24 December 6 Atlanta L 110–121 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Anthony Edwards (7) Target Center 15,736 11–13 25 December 8 Utah L 104–136 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Edwards, Towns (5) Target Center 15,181 11–14 26 December 10 Cleveland L 106–123 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Jarred Vanderbilt (8) Patrick Beverley (7) Target Center 15,694 11–15 27 December 12 @ Portland W 116–111 Anthony Edwards (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (5) Moda Center 16,591 12–15 28 December 15 @ Denver W 124–107 Anthony Edwards (38) Russell, Vanderbilt (8) Patrick Beverley (8) Ball Arena 15,365 13–15 29 December 17 L.A. Lakers W 110–92 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Jarred Vanderbilt (16) Patrick Beverley (7) Target Center 17,136 14–15 30 December 19 Dallas W 111–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Jarred Vanderbilt (10) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Target Center 16,127 15–15 31 December 21 @ Dallas L 102–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) D'Angelo Russell (12) American Airlines Center 20,056 15–16 32 December 23 @ Utah L 102–114 Malik Beasley (33) Naz Reid (10) D'Angelo Russell (14) Vivint Arena 18,306 15–17 33 December 27 Boston W 108–103 Jaylen Nowell (29) Nathan Knight (11) Jordan McLaughlin (10) Target Center 15,962 16–17 34 December 28 New York L 88–96 Malik Beasley (20) Beverley, Knight (7) Patrick Beverley (7) Target Center 16,339 16–18 35 December 31 @ Utah L 108–120 Anthony Edwards (26) Reid, Vanderbilt (7) Patrick Beverley (6) Vivint Arena 18,306 16–19
January: 9–6 (home: 4–0; road: 5–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 36 January 2 @ L.A. Lakers L 103–108 Naz Reid (23) Jarred Vanderbilt (12) Patrick Beverley (6) Crypto.com Arena 18,343 16–20 37 January 3 @ L.A. Clippers W 122–104 Anthony Edwards (28) Jarred Vanderbilt (9) Patrick Beverley (12) Crypto.com Arena 15,959 17–20 38 January 5 Oklahoma City W 98–90 Anthony Edwards (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Patrick Beverley (6) Target Center 14,375 18–20 39 January 7 @ Oklahoma City W 135–105 D'Angelo Russell (27) Jarred Vanderbilt (16) D'Angelo Russell (12) Paycom Center 14,874 19–20 40 January 9 @ Houston W 141–123 Karl-Anthony Towns (40) Jarred Vanderbilt (19) D'Angelo Russell (10) Toyota Center 15,277 20–20 41 January 11 @ New Orleans L 125–128 Anthony Edwards (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) D'Angelo Russell (10) Smoothie King Center 15,155 20–21 42 January 13 @ Memphis L 108–116 Anthony Edwards (30) Jarred Vanderbilt (13) Beverley, Russell (6) FedEx Forum 15,881 20–22 43 January 16 Golden State W 119–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) D'Angelo Russell (12) Target Center 17,136 21–22 44 January 18 @ New York W 112–110 Anthony Edwards (21) Jarred Vanderbilt (7) Patrick Beverley (6) Madison Square Garden 16,071 22–22 45 January 19 @ Atlanta L 122–134 D'Angelo Russell (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) State Farm Arena 15,199 22–23 46 January 23 Brooklyn W 136–125 Anthony Edwards (25) Jarred Vanderbilt (9) D'Angelo Russell (10) Target Center 16,475 23–23 47 January 25 @ Portland W 109–107 Anthony Edwards (40) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jarred Vanderbilt (6) Moda Center 16,422 24–23 48 January 27 @ Golden State L 115–124 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Edwards, Towns (6) Chase Center 18,064 24–24 49 January 28 @ Phoenix L 124–134 Anthony Edwards (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Anthony Edwards (10) Footprint Center 17,071 24–25 50 January 30 Utah W 126–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Target Center 10,407 25–25
February: 8–4 (home: 4–2; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 51 February 1 Denver W 130–115 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) McLaughlin, Towns (7) Target Center 15,839 26–25 52 February 3 @ Detroit W 128–117 Anthony Edwards (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Patrick Beverley (7) Little Caesars Arena 15,523 27–25 53 February 6 Detroit W 118–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) D'Angelo Russell (8) Target Center 16,487 28–25 54 February 8 @ Sacramento W 134–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Jarred Vanderbilt (11) Jordan McLaughlin (11) Golden 1 Center 12,409 29–25 55 February 9 @ Sacramento L 119–132 D'Angelo Russell (29) Jarred Vanderbilt (11) D'Angelo Russell (10) Golden 1 Center 12,527 29–26 56 February 11 @ Chicago L 122–134 Anthony Edwards (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Edwards, Towns (8) United Center 20,092 29–27 57 February 13 @ Indiana W 129–120 Anthony Edwards (37) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) D'Angelo Russell (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 13,532 30–27 58 February 15 Charlotte W 126–120 (OT) Karl-Anthony Towns (39) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) D'Angelo Russell (11) Target Center 17,136 31–27 59 February 16 Toronto L 91–103 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) D'Angelo Russell (7) Target Center 15,982 31–28 60 February 24 Memphis W 119–114 D'Angelo Russell (37) Jarred Vanderbilt (12) D'Angelo Russell (9) Target Center 16,326 32–28 61 February 25 Philadelphia L 102–133 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Jarred Vanderbilt (8) Anthony Edwards (5) Target Center 16,684 32–29 62 February 28 @ Cleveland W 127–122 D'Angelo Russell (25) Jarred Vanderbilt (9) Jordan McLaughlin (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 18,421 33–29
March: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 63 March 1 Golden State W 129–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (39) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Beverley, Russell (7) Target Center 17,136 34–29 64 March 4 @ Oklahoma City W 138–101 Reid, Towns (20) Towns, Vanderbilt (8) Patrick Beverley (8) Paycom Center 15,180 35–29 65 March 5 Portland W 135–121 Karl-Anthony Towns (36) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) D'Angelo Russell (15) Target Center 17,136 36–29 66 March 7 Portland W 124–81 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Patrick Beverley (7) Target Center 16,035 37–29 67 March 9 Oklahoma City W 132–102 Malik Beasley (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) D'Angelo Russell (12) Target Center 16,191 38–29 68 March 11 @ Orlando L 110–118 Anthony Edwards (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) D'Angelo Russell (7) Amway Center 14,557 38–30 69 March 12 @ Miami W 113–104 Jaylen Nowell (16) Reid, Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (9) FTX Arena 19,600 39–30 70 March 14 @ San Antonio W 149–139 Karl-Anthony Towns (60) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Patrick Beverley (8) AT&T Center 14,143 40–30 71 March 16 L.A. Lakers W 124–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Jarred Vanderbilt (9) D'Angelo Russell (6) Target Center 17,136 41–30 72 March 19 Milwaukee W 138–119 Edwards, Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) D'Angelo Russell (9) Target Center 17,136 42–30 73 March 21 @ Dallas L 108–110 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Towns, Vanderbilt (8) Beverley, Rusell (4) American Airlines Center 20,077 42–31 74 March 23 Phoenix L 116–125 Anthony Edwards (19) Jarred Vanderbilt (12) D'Angelo Russell (7) Target Center 17,136 42–32 75 March 25 Dallas W 115–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) D'Angelo Russell (8) Target Center 17,136 43–32 76 March 27 @ Boston L 112–134 Anthony Edwards (24) Anthony Edwards (5) Edwards, Russell (6) TD Garden 19,156 43–33 77 March 30 @ Toronto L 102–125 Anthony Edwards (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jordan McLaughlin (5) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 43–34
April: 3–2 (home: 1–2; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 78 April 1 @ Denver W 136–130 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Anthony Edwards (7) Ball Arena 19,612 44–34 79 April 3 @ Houston W 139–132 Anthony Edwards (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) D'Angelo Russell (9) Toyota Center 16,539 45–34 80 April 5 Washington L 114–132 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) D'Angelo Russell (11) Target Center 17,136 45–35 81 April 7 San Antonio W 127–121 Anthony Edwards (49) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Edwards, Beverley (8) Target Center 17,136 46–35 82 April 10 Chicago L 120–124 Nathan Knight (17) Nathan Knight (8) Greg Monroe (5) Target Center 17,136 46–36
2021–22 season schedule

Play-in

2021 preseason game log Total: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
Play-in: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 April 12 LA Clippers W 109–104 Anthony Edwards (30) Patrick Beverley (12) D'Angelo Russell (6) Target Center 17,136 1–0
2021–22 season schedule

Playoffs

Main article: 2022 NBA playoffs

2021–22 game log Total: 2–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–1)
First Round: 2–2 (home: 1–1; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 April 16 @ Memphis W 130–117 Anthony Edwards (36) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) D'Angelo Russell (9) FedExForum 17,794 1–0 2 April 19 @ Memphis L 96–124 Anthony Edwards (20) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Russell, Beverley, McLaughlin FedExForum 17,794 1–1 3 April 21 Memphis L 95–104 D'Angelo Russell (22) Jarred Vanderbilt (13) D'Angelo Russell (8) Target Center 19,364 1–2 4 April 23 Memphis W 119–118 Karl-Anthony Towns (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) D'Angelo Russell (7) Target Center 19,832 2–2 5 April 26 @ Memphis FedExForum 0–0 6* April 29 Memphis Target Center 0–0 7* May 1 @ Memphis FedExForum 0–0
2021–22 season schedule

Transactions

Main article: List of 2021–22 NBA season transactions

Trades

August 3, 2021	To Minnesota Timberwolves Taurean Prince 2022 WAS second−round pick Cash considerations	To Cleveland Cavaliers Ricky Rubio
August 25, 2021	To Minnesota Timberwolves Patrick Beverley	To Memphis Grizzlies Jarrett Culver Juancho Hernangómez

Free agency

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team
Nathan Knight	Two-way contract (August 6, 2021)	Atlanta Hawks
McKinley Wright IV		Colorado