For most of the past decade, the Timberwolves have been stockpiling talent in an effort to build a contender in the Western Conference.
Year after year, Minnesota has found itself in the NBA's draft lottery, hoping to find the right mix to once again become a factor in the NBA. Some of those choices were outright busts (Johnny Flynn) or grossly overrated (Corey Brewer), while others found stardom elsewhere (Brandon Roy).
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But Monday night's 117-107 win over the piping-hot Hawks was probably as big of a win as the Timberwolves have had in quite a while. Sure, it was just one game in November, but the Timberwolves (4-2) showed that folks won't be able to sleepwalk against them any more.
The catalysts Monday were Andrew Wiggins (33 points on 15-of-22 shooting) and Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks), the top picks in each of the last two NBA Drafts.
Add high-flyer Zach LaVine and young vets like Ricky Rubio and Shabazz Muhammad, and this is a team that could not only be fun to watch, it could also make a push for the playoffs in the not-too-distant future.
Tweet of the night
Drake rolled into Sleep Train Arena to take in the Kings vs. Spurs.
Kings have cut the lead to 69-67. A Drake inspired-run for sure
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) November 10, 2015Stud of the Night
Wiggins would be an obvious choice here, but Towns was just as big down the stretch. All three of his blocks came during a 37-second stretch late in the fourth quarter.
Dud of the Night
Monta Ellis continues to struggle on offense. One game after pouring in a season-high 25 points, he scored just two points on 1-for-9 shooting for the Pacers in Indiana's 97-84 victory over the Magic.
Looking ahead
Thunder (4-3) at Wizards (3-3), 7 p.m. ET: Kevin Durant comes home to the nation's capital, one of the rumored landing spots for the 2013-14 MVP if he decides to bolt in free agency next summer. We also get to see two of the league's best all-around guards in Russell Westbrook and John Wall.