2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 33rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season for the league began on October 19, 2021 and featured the normal 82-game schedule for the first time since the 2018–19 season.[1] On September 22, 2021, general manager Gersson Rosas was fired,[2] and was subsequently replaced by Sachin Gupta.[2]

2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachChris Finch
General managerSachin Gupta
Owner(s)Glen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Northwest)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(lost to Grizzlies 2–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionBally Sports North
RadioWCCO
< 2020–21 2022–23 >

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.[3] 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.[4] However, they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round in six games.[5]

Previous season edit

The Timberwolves concluded the 2020–21 season with 23–49 record, finishing last in the Northwest Division and thirteenth in the Western Conference.[6]

NBA draft edit

Minnesota did not hold any picks in the 2021 NBA draft.[7]

Roster edit

2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G5Beasley, Malik6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)187 lb (85 kg)1996-11-26Florida State
G22Beverley, Patrick6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)1988-07-12Arkansas
F9Bolmaro, Leandro6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg)2000-09-11Argentina
G1Edwards, Anthony6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)225 lb (102 kg)2001-08-05Georgia
F/C13Knight, Nathan (TW)6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)253 lb (115 kg)1997-09-20William & Mary
F10Layman, Jake6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)209 lb (95 kg)1994-03-07Maryland
F3McDaniels, Jaden6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)185 lb (84 kg)2000-09-29Washington
G6McLaughlin, Jordan5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)185 lb (84 kg)1996-04-09USC
C55Monroe, Greg6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)250 lb (113 kg)1990-06-04Georgetown
G4Nowell, Jaylen6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)201 lb (91 kg)1999-07-09Washington
G20Okogie, Josh6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)213 lb (97 kg)1998-09-01Georgia Tech
F12Prince, Taurean6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)218 lb (99 kg)1994-03-22Baylor
C11Reid, Naz6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)264 lb (120 kg)1999-08-26LSU
G0Russell, D'Angelo6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)193 lb (88 kg)1996-02-23Ohio State
F/C32Towns, Karl-Anthony7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)248 lb (112 kg)1995-11-15Kentucky
F8Vanderbilt, Jarred6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)214 lb (97 kg)1999-04-03Kentucky
G25Wright, McKinley (TW)5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)192 lb (87 kg)1998-10-25Colorado
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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: April 11, 2022

Standings edit

Game log edit

Preseason edit

2021 preseason game log
Total: 3–1 (home: 1-0; road: 2-1)
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 1–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 4New OrleansW 117–114 D'Angelo Russell (19)Towns, Vanderbilt (7)Patrick Beverley (6)Target Center
5,715
1–0
2October 8@ DenverW 114–112 (OT)Malik Beasley (13)Jarred Vanderbilt (8)D'Angelo Russell (6)Ball Arena
11,927
2–0
3October 11@ L.A. ClippersW 128–100 D'Angelo Russell (19)Karl-Anthony Towns (9)D'Angelo Russell (9)Toyota Arena
4,850
3–0
4October 14@ BrooklynL 101–107 Anthony Edwards (23)Karl-Anthony Towns (8)Karl-Anthony Towns (6)Barclays Center
11,210
3–1
2021–22 season schedule

Regular season edit

2021–22 game log
Total: 46–36 (home: 26–15; road: 20–21)
October: 3–2 (home: 2–2; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 20HoustonW 124–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (30)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (7)Target Center
16,079
1–0
2October 23New OrleansW 96–89 Karl-Anthony Towns (25)Anthony Edwards (9)Patrick Beverley (6)Target Center
15,343
2–0
3October 25New OrleansL 98–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (32)Karl-Anthony Towns (14)Karl-Anthony Towns (7)Target Center
14,435
2–1
4October 27@ MilwaukeeW 113–108 D'Angelo Russell (29)Jarred Vanderbilt (13)Patrick Beverley (7)Fiserv Forum
17,341
3–1
5October 30DenverL 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
6November 1OrlandoL 97–115 Anthony Edwards (24)Karl-Anthony Towns (16)Karl-Anthony Towns (6)Target Center
14,744
3–3
7November 3L.A. ClippersL 115–126 Anthony Edwards (28)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)Patrick Beverley (8)Target Center
15,386
3–4
8November 5L.A. ClippersL 84–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (20)Towns, Vanderbilt (8)Jordan McLaughlin (5)Target Center
17,136
3–5
9November 7@ MemphisL 118–125 (OT)Anthony Edwards (27)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)D'Angelo Russell (7)FedExForum
12,416
3–6
10November 10@ Golden StateL 110–123 Anthony Edwards (48)Karl-Anthony Towns (12)Beverley, Russell (7)Chase Center
18,064
3–7
11November 12@ L.A. LakersW 107–83 Karl-Anthony Towns (29)Beverley, Towns (7)D'Angelo Russell (7)Staples Center
18,997
4–7
12November 13@ L.A. ClippersL 102–129 Anthony Edwards (21)Anthony Edwards (9)D'Angelo Russell (8)Staples Center
15,285
4–8
13November 15PhoenixL 94–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (35)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)Anthony Edwards (6)Target Center
16,279
4–9
14November 17SacramentoW 107–97 Karl-Anthony Towns (22)Jarred Vanderbilt (7)Beverley, Russell (7)Target Center
13,108
5–9
15November 18San AntonioW 115–90 Karl-Anthony Towns (25)Towns, Vanderbilt (12)Anthony Edwards (6)Target Center
13,572
6–9
16November 20MemphisW 138–95 D'Angelo Russell (28)Jarred Vanderbilt (10)D'Angelo Russell (5)Target Center
17,136
7–9
17November 22@ New OrleansW 110–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (28)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (8)Smoothie King Center
15,689
8–9
18November 24MiamiW 113–101 Anthony Edwards (33)Jarred Vanderbilt (15)Edwards, Russell (6)Target Center
17,136
9–9
19November 26@ CharlotteL 115–133 Karl-Anthony Towns (25)Jarred Vanderbilt (8)Karl-Anthony Towns (6)Spectrum Center
19,314
9–10
20November 27@ PhiladelphiaW 121–120 (OT)Karl-Anthony Towns (28)Jarred Vanderbilt (14)D'Angelo Russell (8)Wells Fargo Center
21,011
10–10
21November 29IndianaW 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
22December 1@ WashingtonL 107–115 Karl-Anthony Towns (34)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (9)Capital One Arena
15,318
11–11
23December 3@ BrooklynL 105–110 D'Angelo Russell (21)Jarred Vanderbilt (15)D'Angelo Russell (11)Barclays Center
17,732
11–12
24December 6AtlantaL 110–121 Karl-Anthony Towns (31)Karl-Anthony Towns (16)Anthony Edwards (7)Target Center
15,736
11–13
25December 8UtahL 104–136 Karl-Anthony Towns (22)Karl-Anthony Towns (7)Edwards, Towns (5)Target Center
15,181
11–14
26December 10ClevelandL 106–123 Karl-Anthony Towns (21)Jarred Vanderbilt (8)Patrick Beverley (7)Target Center
15,694
11–15
27December 12@ PortlandW 116–111 Anthony Edwards (24)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (5)Moda Center
16,591
12–15
28December 15@ DenverW 124–107 Anthony Edwards (38)Russell, Vanderbilt (8)Patrick Beverley (8)Ball Arena
15,365
13–15
29December 17L.A. LakersW 110–92 Karl-Anthony Towns (28)Jarred Vanderbilt (16)Patrick Beverley (7)Target Center
17,136
14–15
30December 19DallasW 111–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (24)Jarred Vanderbilt (10)Karl-Anthony Towns (6)Target Center
16,127
15–15
31December 21@ DallasL 102–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (26)Karl-Anthony Towns (14)D'Angelo Russell (12)American Airlines Center
20,056
15–16
32December 23@ UtahL 102–114 Malik Beasley (33)Naz Reid (10)D'Angelo Russell (14)Vivint Arena
18,306
15–17
33December 27BostonW 108–103 Jaylen Nowell (29)Nathan Knight (11)Jordan McLaughlin (10)Target Center
15,962
16–17
34December 28New YorkL 88–96 Malik Beasley (20)Beverley, Knight (7)Patrick Beverley (7)Target Center
16,339
16–18
35December 31@ UtahL 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
36January 2@ L.A. LakersL 103–108 Naz Reid (23)Jarred Vanderbilt (12)Patrick Beverley (6)Crypto.com Arena
18,343
16–20
37January 3@ L.A. ClippersW 122–104 Anthony Edwards (28)Jarred Vanderbilt (9)Patrick Beverley (12)Crypto.com Arena
15,959
17–20
38January 5Oklahoma CityW 98–90 Anthony Edwards (22)Karl-Anthony Towns (16)Patrick Beverley (6)Target Center
14,375
18–20
39January 7@ Oklahoma CityW 135–105 D'Angelo Russell (27)Jarred Vanderbilt (16)D'Angelo Russell (12)Paycom Center
14,874
19–20
40January 9@ HoustonW 141–123 Karl-Anthony Towns (40)Jarred Vanderbilt (19)D'Angelo Russell (10)Toyota Center
15,277
20–20
41January 11@ New OrleansL 125–128 Anthony Edwards (28)Karl-Anthony Towns (8)D'Angelo Russell (10)Smoothie King Center
15,155
20–21
42January 13@ MemphisL 108–116 Anthony Edwards (30)Jarred Vanderbilt (13)Beverley, Russell (6)FedEx Forum
15,881
20–22
43January 16Golden StateW 119–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (26)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)D'Angelo Russell (12)Target Center
17,136
21–22
44January 18@ New YorkW 112–110 Anthony Edwards (21)Jarred Vanderbilt (7)Patrick Beverley (6)Madison Square Garden
16,071
22–22
45January 19@ AtlantaL 122–134 D'Angelo Russell (31)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)Karl-Anthony Towns (7)State Farm Arena
15,199
22–23
46January 23BrooklynW 136–125 Anthony Edwards (25)Jarred Vanderbilt (9)D'Angelo Russell (10)Target Center
16,475
23–23
47January 25@ PortlandW 109–107 Anthony Edwards (40)Karl-Anthony Towns (17)Jarred Vanderbilt (6)Moda Center
16,422
24–23
48January 27@ Golden StateL 115–124 Karl-Anthony Towns (31)Karl-Anthony Towns (12)Edwards, Towns (6)Chase Center
18,064
24–24
49January 28@ PhoenixL 124–134 Anthony Edwards (27)Karl-Anthony Towns (9)Anthony Edwards (10)Footprint Center
17,071
24–25
50January 30UtahW 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
51February 1DenverW 130–115 Karl-Anthony Towns (24)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)McLaughlin, Towns (7)Target Center
15,839
26–25
52February 3@ DetroitW 128–117 Anthony Edwards (25)Karl-Anthony Towns (14)Patrick Beverley (7)Little Caesars Arena
15,523
27–25
53February 6DetroitW 118–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (24)Karl-Anthony Towns (12)D'Angelo Russell (8)Target Center
16,487
28–25
54February 8@ SacramentoW 134–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (25)Jarred Vanderbilt (11)Jordan McLaughlin (11)Golden 1 Center
12,409
29–25
55February 9@ SacramentoL 119–132 D'Angelo Russell (29)Jarred Vanderbilt (11)D'Angelo Russell (10)Golden 1 Center
12,527
29–26
56February 11@ ChicagoL 122–134 Anthony Edwards (31)Karl-Anthony Towns (8)Edwards, Towns (8)United Center
20,092
29–27
57February 13@ IndianaW 129–120 Anthony Edwards (37)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)D'Angelo Russell (6)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
13,532
30–27
58February 15CharlotteW 126–120 (OT)Karl-Anthony Towns (39)Karl-Anthony Towns (15)D'Angelo Russell (11)Target Center
17,136
31–27
59February 16TorontoL 91–103 Karl-Anthony Towns (24)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)D'Angelo Russell (7)Target Center
15,982
31–28
60February 24MemphisW 119–114 D'Angelo Russell (37)Jarred Vanderbilt (12)D'Angelo Russell (9)Target Center
16,326
32–28
61February 25PhiladelphiaL 102–133 Karl-Anthony Towns (25)Jarred Vanderbilt (8)Anthony Edwards (5)Target Center
16,684
32–29
62February 28@ ClevelandW 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
63March 1Golden StateW 129–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (39)Karl-Anthony Towns (9)Beverley, Russell (7)Target Center
17,136
34–29
64March 4@ Oklahoma CityW 138–101 Reid, Towns (20)Towns, Vanderbilt (8)Patrick Beverley (8)Paycom Center
15,180
35–29
65March 5PortlandW 135–121 Karl-Anthony Towns (36)Karl-Anthony Towns (15)D'Angelo Russell (15)Target Center
17,136
36–29
66March 7PortlandW 124–81 Karl-Anthony Towns (27)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)Patrick Beverley (7)Target Center
16,035
37–29
67March 9Oklahoma CityW 132–102 Malik Beasley (33)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)D'Angelo Russell (12)Target Center
16,191
38–29
68March 11@ OrlandoL 110–118 Anthony Edwards (25)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)D'Angelo Russell (7)Amway Center
14,557
38–30
69March 12@ MiamiW 113–104 Jaylen Nowell (16)Reid, Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (9)FTX Arena
19,600
39–30
70March 14@ San AntonioW 149–139 Karl-Anthony Towns (60)Karl-Anthony Towns (17)Patrick Beverley (8)AT&T Center
14,143
40–30
71March 16L.A. LakersW 124–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (30)Jarred Vanderbilt (9)D'Angelo Russell (6)Target Center
17,136
41–30
72March 19MilwaukeeW 138–119 Edwards, Towns (25)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)D'Angelo Russell (9)Target Center
17,136
42–30
73March 21@ DallasL 108–110 Karl-Anthony Towns (22)Towns, Vanderbilt (8)Beverley, Rusell (4)American Airlines Center
20,077
42–31
74March 23PhoenixL 116–125 Anthony Edwards (19)Jarred Vanderbilt (12)D'Angelo Russell (7)Target Center
17,136
42–32
75March 25DallasW 115–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (20)Karl-Anthony Towns (9)D'Angelo Russell (8)Target Center
17,136
43–32
76March 27@ BostonL 112–134 Anthony Edwards (24)Anthony Edwards (5)Edwards, Russell (6)TD Garden
19,156
43–33
77March 30@ TorontoL 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
78April 1@ DenverW 136–130 Karl-Anthony Towns (32)Karl-Anthony Towns (9)Anthony Edwards (7)Ball Arena
19,612
44–34
79April 3@ HoustonW 139–132 Anthony Edwards (33)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)D'Angelo Russell (9)Toyota Center
16,539
45–34
80April 5WashingtonL 114–132 Karl-Anthony Towns (26)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)D'Angelo Russell (11)Target Center
17,136
45–35
81April 7San AntonioW 127–121 Anthony Edwards (49)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)Edwards, Beverley (8)Target Center
17,136
46–35
82April 10ChicagoL 120–124 Nathan Knight (17)Nathan Knight (8)Greg Monroe (5)Target Center
17,136
46–36
2021–22 season schedule

Play-in edit

2022 play-in game log
Total: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
Play-in: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 12LA ClippersW 109–104 Anthony Edwards (30)Patrick Beverley (12)D'Angelo Russell (6)Target Center
17,136
1–0
2021–22 season schedule

Playoffs edit

2021–22 game log
Total: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
First Round: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 16@ MemphisW 130–117 Anthony Edwards (36)Karl-Anthony Towns (13)D'Angelo Russell (9)FedExForum
17,794
1–0
2April 19@ MemphisL 96–124 Anthony Edwards (20)Karl-Anthony Towns (11)Russell, Beverley, McLaughlinFedExForum
17,794
1–1
3April 21MemphisL 95–104 D'Angelo Russell (22)Jarred Vanderbilt (13)D'Angelo Russell (8)Target Center
19,364
1–2
4April 23MemphisW 119–118 Karl-Anthony Towns (33)Karl-Anthony Towns (14)D'Angelo Russell (7)Target Center
19,832
2–2
5April 26@ MemphisL 109–111 Karl-Anthony Towns (28)Karl-Anthony Towns (12)D'Angelo Russell (8)FedExForum
17,794
2–3
6April 29MemphisL 106–114 Anthony Edwards (30)Karl-Anthony Towns (10)Anthony Edwards (5)Target Center
20,323
2–4
2021–22 season schedule

Player statistics edit

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field-goal percentage 3P% 3-point field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game

Regular season edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG

Transactions edit

Trades edit

August 3, 2021[8]To Minnesota Timberwolves
Taurean Prince
2022 WAS second−round pick
Cash considerations
To Cleveland Cavaliers
Ricky Rubio
August 25, 2021[9]To Minnesota Timberwolves
Patrick Beverley
To Memphis Grizzlies
Jarrett Culver
Juancho Hernangómez

Free agency edit

Additions edit

PlayerSignedFormer team
Nathan KnightTwo-way contract
(August 6, 2021)
Atlanta Hawks
McKinley Wright IVColorado

References edit

  1. ^ "NBA announces schedule for 75th Anniversary Season". National Basketball Association. August 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Gersson Rosas Fired as T-Wolves President of Basketball Ops; Sachin Gupta Promoted". Bleacher Report. September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Kulkarni, Divij. "The Minnesota Timberwolves Clinch Their 2nd Winning Season Since 2005, They Have The Best Record Since The All-Star Break". Fadeaway World. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Timberwolves Clinch Trip to the Playoffs". www.nba.com. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "Grizzlies beat T-Wolves to clinch 1st playoff series win in 7 years". theScore.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "2020–21 NBA Standings". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "2021 NBA draft order: Complete picks for the first and second round". ESPN. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Cavaliers Acquire Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves". NBA.com. August 3, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Grizzlies acquire Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez from Timberwolves". NBA.com. August 25, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.