The renewed focus on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ proclivity to blow double-digit leads was met with defiance Wednesday night as Minnesota built a 22-point advantage in the third quarter and held on for a convincing victory over the previously undefeated NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Was that victory the elixir to what’s ailed the Wolves for so long? That is yet to be determined, but we did the dirty work and picked apart all 18 of Minnesota’s losses from 2022-23 in which they coughed up a double-digit lead. Not included – because it’s so fresh in our minds – is Monday’s meltdown in which the Wolves got smoked by Atlanta after leading by 21 points.
The common theme in almost all of meltdowns was Minnesota completely falling apart for a specific stretch of the game. In fact, we identified the points in each meltdown when the Wolves got run out of the gym (see below).
We found that when you add up all 18 disasters, the Wolves were outscored 557-226 in a grand total of about 164 minutes. That equates to an average of the Wolves getting outscored 168-66 per 48 minutes.
Oct. 21, 2022: +17 Utah
Minnesota led 41-24 with 9 seconds left in the first quarter and wound up losing 132-126 in overtime. The Wolves led 60-44 with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter and then by the time there was under 6 minutes to go in the third they were down 77-70.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 41-24.
Final score: Utah wins 132-126 (OT)
Why? Outscored 33-10 in a span of about 13 minutes.
Nov. 25, 2022: +13 Charlotte
The 13-point lead came when it was 44-31 midway through the second quarter and the Wolves went on to lose 110-108. Minnesota led by 10 points at the half before Charlotte whipped them 39-21 in the third quarter and what was once a 10-point lead turned into a 14-point deficit when the Hornets led 97-83 in the fourth quarter.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 44-31
Final score: 110-108
Why? Outscored 45-21 in a span of 11 minutes, 45 seconds late third, early fourth.
Dec. 10, 2022: +10 Portland
The Wolves built a 10-point lead with under five minutes to go in the third quarter and then got wrecked. Portland outscored Minnesota 27-8 from the time there was 4:48 left in the third quarter until there was 8:39 left in the game.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 86-76
Final score: 124-118
Why? Outscored 27-8 late third to early fourth in stretch of 8 minutes, 9 seconds.
Dec. 28, 2022: +11 New Orleans
Wolves led 50-39 with 3:10 left in the first half and they held a 10-point lead with 3:53 left in the third quarter only to have New Orleans outscore them 13-5 the rest of the quarter, shooting just 1-of-6 and missing three 3s and a 20-foot jumper by Jaylen Nowell.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 50-39
Final score: 119-118
Why? Outscored 13-5 in final 3 minutes, 53 seconds of end third quarter
Dec. 30, 2022: +13 Milwaukee
Led by 13 points in the second quarter and carried a 10-point lead into the half only to get thumped 39-21 in the third quarter. Led by 63-52 with 9:42 left in the third before the Bucks went on a 53-26 run over the next 13 minutes, 33 seconds.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 55-42
Final score: 123-114
Why? Outscored 53-26 from early third to early fourth.
Dec. 31, 2022: +18 Detroit
Led 30-12 with 4:07 to go in the first quarter. Still led by 14 at the half. Maintained 83-71 lead with 4:41 left in the third only to see the score flip to 103-92 with 8:35 left in the fourth.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 30-12
Final score: 116-104
Why? Outscored 32-9 in span of 8 minutes, 6 seconds from late third to early fourth.
Jan. 11, 2023: +10 Detroit
Scored the first 10 points of the game and still led by 10, 59-49, with 4:31 left in the second quarter. But Detroit closed the quarter on a 16-5 run to lead 65-64 at the half. Minnesota was within 84-79 with 5:20 go in the third before the Pistons went on a 17-8 run to end the quarter built a 109-87 lead with 9:28 left in the game.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 59-49
Final score: 135-118
Why? Outscored 30-3 late third to early fourth in a span of 7 minutes, 23 seconds.
Jan. 16, 2023: +11 Utah
Led 56-45 with 2:07 left in the first half. Halftime lead was 58-52. Still led 95-87 after three quarters and led 99-91 with 10:28 to go before the Jazz went on a 34-21 run over the next 10:02 to take control.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 56-45
Final score: 126-125
Why? Outscored 34-21 in span of 10 minutes, 2 seconds of fourth quarter.
Jan. 18, 2023: +10 Denver
Led by 10 in the first quarter and again in the third quarter before carrying a 95-88 lead into the fourth. Still led by seven points (104-97) with 8:12 to go and were up by five 118-113 with 2:51 to play before Denver closed the game on a 9-0 run.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 70-60
Final score: 122-118
Why? Outscored 9-0 in the last 2 minutes, 51 seconds of the game.
Jan. 30, 2023: +10 Sacramento
Minnesota trailed by 10 points in the first quarter and then had a 10-point lead early in the third quarter. Kings cut the deficit to three points after three and both teams traded blows in the fourth quarter.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 61-51
Final score: 118-111
Why? Outscored 15-6 in 5-minute overtime.
Feb. 3, 2023: +10 Orlando
Led 27-17 with 2:22 left in the first quarter. Led 37-27 with 11:18 to go in the second before the Magic closed the half on a 37-20 run and pushed their lead to as many as 22 points with 8:52 left in the game.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 37-27
Final score: 127-120
Why? Outscored 75-43 from early second quarter to early fourth quarter.
Feb. 16, 2023: +20 Washington
Led 32-12 with 3:39 left in the first quarter before being outscored 102-74 rest of the game. But Minnesota still held an 18-point led, 51-33 with 5:42 left in the second quarter and maintained the 18-point lead (87-69) with 2:04 to go in the third quarter.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 32-12
Final score: 114-106
Why? Outscored 45-19 in final 14 minutes, 4 seconds of the game.
Feb. 26, 2023: +14 Golden State
Led by 14 halfway through the first quarter only to trail by two points at halftime. Then Minnesota took an 87-78 lead entering the fourth and maintained a nine-point lead (96-87) with 7:31 to play, at which point the Warriors turned on the Jets and took a 107-99 lead with 1:01 remaining.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 23-9
Final score: 109-104
Why? Outscored 20-3 in span of 6 minutes, 30 seconds late in fourth quarter.
March 10, 2023: +12 Brooklyn
Led 60-48 with 4:52 left in the first half and carried an eight-point lead into the half. Then led 80-73 with 6:41 to go in the third and then Brooklyn went on a 24-8 run over the next 7:25. Minnesota rallied to tie the game late but Brooklyn won 124-123.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 60-48
Final score: 124-123
Why? Outscored 24-8 mid-third to early fourth in a span of 7 minutes, 25 seconds.
March 17, 2023: +13 Chicago
Up 53-40 with 3:02 remaining in the second quarter. Solid run to end the third quarter had them ahead 90-80 entering the fourth and were still up 95-85 with 9:29 to go before the Bulls closed regulation on a 28-18 run and then outscored Minnesota 16-8 in the second overtime.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 53-40
Final score: 139-131 double overtime
Why? Blew 10-point lead in the fourth and ran out of gas in second OT.
March 29, 2023: +10 Phoenix
Minnesota led 60-50 before the Suns closed the final 9:27 of the third quarter on a 31-14 run and they never trailed again.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 60-50
Final score: 107-100
Why? Outscored 31-14 over final 9 minutes, 27 seconds of third quarter.
March 31, 2023: +13 Los Angeles Lakers
Led 68-55 with 11:42 left in the third quarter and still held a 12-point lead with 7:49 to play in the third. Minnesota’s 76-64 lead disappeared and the Lakers led 90-83 entering the fourth thanks to a 26-7 run. The Lakers then grew the lead to as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 68-55
Final score: 123-111
Why? Outscored 26-7 over final 7 minutes, 49 seconds of third quarter.
April 2, 2023: +12 Portland
Led 84-72 with 3:37 to go in the third. Portland took the lead with 8:21 left in the fourth and held the lead to the finish, winning 107-105.
Wolves’ biggest lead: 84-72
Final score: 107-105
Why? Outscored 17-5 late third to early fourth in a span of 7 minutes, 16 seconds.
