2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season
2021–22 NBA season by team
NBA professional basketball team 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]
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
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
Minnesota did not hold any picks in the 2021 NBA draft .[ 7]
Roster
2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
5
Beasley, Malik
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
187 lb (85 kg)
1996-11-26
Florida State
G
22
Beverley, Patrick
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1988-07-12
Arkansas
F
9
Bolmaro, Leandro
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
2000-09-11
Argentina
G
1
Edwards, Anthony
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
2001-08-05
Georgia
F/C
13
Knight, Nathan (TW)
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
253 lb (115 kg)
1997-09-20
William & Mary
F
10
Layman, Jake
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
209 lb (95 kg)
1994-03-07
Maryland
F
3
McDaniels, Jaden
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
2000-09-29
Washington
G
6
McLaughlin, Jordan
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1996-04-09
USC
C
55
Monroe, Greg
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1990-06-04
Georgetown
G
4
Nowell, Jaylen
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
201 lb (91 kg)
1999-07-09
Washington
G
20
Okogie, Josh
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
213 lb (97 kg)
1998-09-01
Georgia Tech
F
12
Prince, Taurean
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1994-03-22
Baylor
C
11
Reid, Naz
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
264 lb (120 kg)
1999-08-26
LSU
G
0
Russell, D'Angelo
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1996-02-23
Ohio State
F/C
32
Towns, Karl-Anthony
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
248 lb (112 kg)
1995-11-15
Kentucky
F
8
Vanderbilt, Jarred
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
214 lb (97 kg)
1999-04-03
Kentucky
G
25
Wright, McKinley (TW)
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
192 lb (87 kg)
1998-10-25
Colorado
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
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)
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)
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)
2021–22 season schedule
Play-in
Playoffs
Player statistics
Ragular season
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Malik Beasley
SG
79
18
1,976
227
116
43
12
953
25.0
2.9
1.5
.5
.2
12.1
Naz Reid
C
77
6
1,215
301
71
40
71
637
15.8
3.9
.9
.5
.9
8.3
Karl-Anthony Towns
C
74
74
2,476
727
269
72
83
1,818
33.5
9.8
3.6
1.0
1.1
24.6
Jarred Vanderbilt
PF
74
67
1,880
624
94
99
46
512
25.4
8.4
1.3
1.3
.6
6.9
Anthony Edwards
SG
72
72
2,466
343
275
105
46
1,533
34.3
4.8
3.8
1.5
.6
21.3
Jaden McDaniels
PF
70
31
1,803
293
79
52
54
647
25.8
4.2
1.1
.7
.8
9.2
Taurean Prince
PF
69
8
1,177
174
68
47
23
502
17.1
2.5
1.0
.7
.3
7.3
D'Angelo Russell
PG
65
65
2,077
216
460
62
22
1,176
32.0
3.3
7.1
1.0
.3
18.1
Jordan McLaughlin
PG
62
3
902
94
180
57
10
233
14.5
1.5
2.9
.9
.2
3.8
Jaylen Nowell
SG
62
1
975
123
130
27
10
527
15.7
2.0
2.1
.4
.2
8.5
Patrick Beverley
PG
58
54
1,476
240
268
67
52
533
25.4
4.1
4.6
1.2
.9
9.2
Josh Okogie
SG
49
6
516
70
25
26
12
133
10.5
1.4
.5
.5
.2
2.7
Nathan Knight
PF
37
2
267
85
22
7
8
138
7.2
2.3
.6
.2
.2
3.7
Leandro Bolmaro
SF
35
2
241
43
21
6
0
50
6.9
1.2
.6
.2
.0
1.4
Jake Layman
SF
34
1
231
36
9
7
5
81
6.8
1.1
.3
.2
.1
2.4
McKinley Wright IV
PG
5
0
19
0
3
0
0
5
3.8
.0
.6
.0
.0
1.0
Greg Monroe †
C
4
0
81
24
16
4
6
29
20.3
6.0
4.0
1.0
1.5
7.3
Chris Silva †
PF
1
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
3.0
1.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.
Playoffs
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Additions
References
^ "NBA announces schedule for 75th Anniversary Season" . National Basketball Association . August 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021 .
^ a b "Gersson Rosas Fired as T-Wolves President of Basketball Ops; Sachin Gupta Promoted" . Bleacher Report . September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ "Timberwolves Clinch Trip to the Playoffs" . www.nba.com . Retrieved April 13, 2022 .
^ "Grizzlies beat T-Wolves to clinch 1st playoff series win in 7 years" . theScore.com . Retrieved May 2, 2022 .
^ "2020–21 NBA Standings" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved October 19, 2021 .
^ "2021 NBA draft order: Complete picks for the first and second round" . ESPN . June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021 .
^ "Cavaliers Acquire Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves" . NBA.com . August 3, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022 .
^ "Grizzlies acquire Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez from Timberwolves" . NBA.com . August 25, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022 .
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