Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert have double-doubles as Timberwolves roll past Heat, 122-94

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 6, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — It is sometimes hard to recognize a turning point of a team’s season’s in real time. That usually only comes with the benefit of hindsight.

But it’s hard not to watch the Timberwolves these past three games and feel like their spiritless losses to Brooklyn and Atlanta represented a shift in the team’s overall demeanor and effort.

For the second time in three games, the Wolves defeated a solid Heat team, overcoming a slow start to control the rest of the game in a 122-94 triumph at Target Center on Tuesday night before an announced crowd of 17,023.

They held Miami to just 36% shooting. Up and down the roster the Wolves got contributions with six players in double figures. Anthony Edwards led the way with 26 points while Jaden McDaniels added 19 and Naz Reid had 14.

Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (13 and 17) each had double doubles.

What it means

The Wolves couldn’t have played much worse last week in their losses to the Nets and the Hawks and the collective mood of the team wasn’t a good one as they had some time in Miami before playing the Heat on Jan. 3. They could have let that energy snowball the rest of their road trip, but instead they have responded with some of their most professional basketball of the season.

The Wolves have been frustrated most of the season that they haven’t lived up to their full potential, but this three-game win streak has showed what they can do when they are clicking.

Overcoming cold start

The Wolves haven’t shot well at home this season compared to the road; they were 21st in home field-goal percentage and third on the road entering the night. They started the night out cold, not from a lack of effort or energy, but they just couldn’t hit shots. The began the night down 24-16 and shooting just 33% at that point.

But as they worked their way to their bench, Reid provided some needed scoring punch with a 5 for 7 first half (12 points). The Wolves held the Heat to 43% shooting in the first half, and that enabled them to go on a few different runs late in the first and early in the second quarter (10-0 and 14-5) to take a 61-54 halftime lead.

McDaniels gets it going

Coach Chris Finch mentioned how he liked that Edwards made it a point in the win over the Wizards to get McDaniels more involved in the offense. That came after McDaniels had three consecutive games scoring in single digits. After his 12 against Washington, McDaniels had 19 against Miami.

DiVincenzo shoots through slump

Shooters have to keep shooting whether they’re hot or col. That’s the only way to get out of a slump when you’re in one that Donte DiVincenzo finds himself in at the moment. DiVincenzo entered the game 11 for his last 45 (24%) from 3-point range dating back to the Wolves’ loss to Denver on Christmas.

He was 0 for 3 from deep in his first shift then 0 for 1 in his second shift before he got one to drop to make it 57-50 Wolves just before halftime. That might’ve helped him warm up; he hit a pair of 3s on back-to-back possessions near the end of the third to give the Wolves a 93-77 lead. He finished 4 for 9 with 12 points.