2020–21 Minnesota Timberwolves season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2020–21 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 32nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) On February 21, 2021, the Timberwolves fired head coach Ryan Saunders after three seasons with the team.[ 1] On the following day, Toronto Raptors assistant head coach Chris Finch was announced as the next head coach.[ 2] After a loss to the Sacramento Kings on April 21, followed by the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Detroit Pistons the next day, the Timberwolves were eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year.[ 3]
Draft
Before the start of the 2020 NBA draft period, the Timberwolves' selection was held stuck as the #3 selection of the draft with their record being the third-worst of all NBA teams the prior season at 19–45 before the NBA suspended their season on March 12, 2020 and cancelled the rest of Minnesota's season by June 5.[ 4] As a result, they held the best odds to move up at #1 alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors for the 2020 draft, though also held odds to fall as low as the #6 pick of the draft. This year, the Timberwolves ended the 2020 NBA draft lottery with the #1 selection, moving up two spots from their initial projection. In addition to their first-round pick, the Timberwolves also held their second-round pick and gained a first-round picks from a previous trade involving the Brooklyn Nets . They traded the Number 17 pick and James Johnson for Ricky Rubio, the number 25 and 28 overall picks.[ 5] They then traded the number 25 and 33 overall picks for the 23rd overall pick.[ 5]
Roster
2020–21 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/F
23
Culver, Jarrett
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1999-02-20
Texas Tech
F/C
17
Davis, Ed
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1989-06-05
North Carolina
G
1
Edwards, Anthony
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
2001-08-05
Georgia
F
41
Hernangómez, Juan
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
214 lb (97 kg)
1995-09-28
Spain
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 (TW)
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1996–04–09
USC
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
C
11
Reid, Naz
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
264 lb (120 kg)
1999-08-26
LSU
G
9
Rubio, Ricky
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1990-10-21
Spain
G
0
Russell, D'Angelo
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
193 lb (88 kg)
1996-02-23
Ohio State
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
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: February 22, 2021
Standings
Division
Conference
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pb – Clinched play-in spot
o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
2020 preseason game log Total: 1–2 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–0)
Preseason: 1–2 (home: 0–2; road: 1–0)
2020–21 season schedule
Regular season
2020–21 game log Total: 23–49 (Home: 13–23; Road: 10–26)
December: 2–2 (home: 1–0; road: 1–2)
January: 3–12 (home: 3–7; road: 0–5)
February: 2–14 (home: 0–5; road: 2–9)
March: 5–8 (home: 3–5; road: 2–3)
April: 8–8 (home: 5–2; road: 3–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
49
April 2
@ Memphis
L 108–120
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Karl-Anthony Towns (16)
Anthony Edwards (6)
Target Center 0
12–37
50
April 3
@ Philadelphia
L 113–122
Karl-Anthony Towns (39)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
Jordan McLaughlin (9)
Wells Fargo Center 3,071
12–38
51
April 5
Sacramento
W 116–106
D'Angelo Russell (25)
Karl-Anthony Towns (13)
Edwards, Rubio , Towns (5)
Target Center 1,436
13–38
52
April 7
@ Indiana
L 137–141
Karl-Anthony Towns (32)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse Limited seating
13–39
53
April 9
@ Boston
L 136–145 (OT)
Karl-Anthony Towns (30)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
D'Angelo Russell (8)
TD Garden 2,298
13–40
54
April 11
Chicago
W 121–117
Russell, Towns (27)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Target Center 1,436
14–40
—
April 12
Brooklyn
Postponed (Killing of Daunte Wright ) (Makeup date: April 13) [ 7]
55
April 13
Brooklyn
L 97–127
Anthony Edwards (27)
Anthony Edwards (8)
Jarred Vanderbilt (3)
Target Center 0
14–41
56
April 14
Milwaukee
L 105–130
Anthony Edwards (24)
Naz Reid (15)
D'Angelo Russell (6)
Target Center 0
14–42
57
April 16
Miami
W 119–111
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Naz Reid (7)
Edwards, Towns, Russell (5)
Target Center 1,638
15–42
58
April 18
@ L. A. Clippers
L 105–124
Anthony Edwards (23)
Naz Reid (7)
Rubio, Towns (5)
Staples Center 1,734
15–43
59
April 20
@ Sacramento
W 134–120
Edwards, Russell (28)
Karl-Anthony Towns (18)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Golden 1 Center 0
16–43
60
April 21
@ Sacramento
L 125–128
Karl-Anthony Towns (26)
Naz Reid (7)
D'Angelo Russell (9)
Golden 1 Center 0
16–44
61
April 24
@ Utah
W 101–96
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Anthony Edwards (4)
Vivint Arena 5,546
17–44
62
April 26
Utah
W 105–104
Karl-Anthony Towns (21)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
D'Angelo Russell (12)
Target Center 1,638
18–44
63
April 27
@ Houston
W 114–107
Karl-Anthony Towns (31)
Anthony Edwards (9)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
Toyota Center 3,225
19–44
64
April 29
Golden State
W 126–114
Ricky Rubio (26)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
D'Angelo Russell (8)
Target Center 1,638
20–44
May: 3–5 (home: 1–4; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
65
May 1
@ New Orleans
L 136–140
Anthony Edwards (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
D'Angelo Russell (11)
Target Center 1,638
20–45
66
May 5
Memphis
L 135–139
Anthony Edwards (42)
Naz Reid (7)
D'Angelo Russell (14)
Target Center 1,436
20–46
67
May 7
@ Miami
L 112–121
Karl-Anthony Towns (27)
Jarred Vanderbilt (11)
Ricky Rubio (9)
American Airlines Arena Limited seating
20–47
68
May 9
@ Orlando
W 128–96
Russell, Towns (27)
Anthony Edwards (10)
D'Angelo Russell (7)
Amway Center 4,086
21–47
69
May 11
@ Detroit
W 119–100
Karl-Anthony Towns (28)
Towns, Vanderbilt (8)
D'Angelo Russell (10)
Little Caesars Arena 750
22–47
70
May 13
Denver
L 103–114
Anthony Edwards (29)
Karl-Anthony Towns (11)
Edwards, Rubio (5)
Target Center 1,638
22–48
71
May 15
Boston
L 108–124
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Karl-Anthony Towns (14)
Edwards, Russell (6)
Target Center 1,638
22–49
72
May 16
Dallas
W 136–121
Anthony Edwards (30)
Jarred Vanderbilt (12)
D'Angelo Russell (10)
Target Center 1,638
23–49
2020–21 season schedule
Player statistics
Ragular season
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Anthony Edwards
SG
72
55
2,314
336
211
82
36
1,392
32.1
4.7
2.9
1.1
.5
19.3
Naz Reid
C
70
15
1,347
322
72
34
76
784
19.2
4.6
1.0
.5
1.1
11.2
Ricky Rubio
PG
68
51
1,772
223
433
98
4
582
26.1
3.3
6.4
1.4
.1
8.6
Jarred Vanderbilt
PF
64
30
1,139
368
76
64
46
344
17.8
5.8
1.2
1.0
.7
5.4
Jaden McDaniels
PF
63
27
1,511
232
71
35
60
427
24.0
3.7
1.1
.6
1.0
6.8
Josh Okogie
SG
59
37
1,197
156
63
54
28
316
20.3
2.6
1.1
.9
.5
5.4
Juancho Hernangómez
PF
52
6
900
205
35
19
7
375
17.3
3.9
.7
.4
.1
7.2
Jordan McLaughlin
PG
51
2
938
108
193
51
6
256
18.4
2.1
3.8
1.0
.1
5.0
Karl-Anthony Towns
C
50
50
1,689
529
225
39
57
1,239
33.8
10.6
4.5
.8
1.1
24.8
Jake Layman
SF
45
11
627
67
28
29
19
231
13.9
1.5
.6
.6
.4
5.1
D'Angelo Russell
PG
42
26
1,196
111
244
45
18
796
28.5
2.6
5.8
1.1
.4
19.0
Jaylen Nowell
SG
42
0
759
95
62
22
12
379
18.1
2.3
1.5
.5
.3
9.0
Malik Beasley
SG
37
36
1,214
162
88
30
7
724
32.8
4.4
2.4
.8
.2
19.6
Jarrett Culver
SG
34
7
499
104
24
17
9
180
14.7
3.1
.7
.5
.3
5.3
Ed Davis
C
23
7
299
115
21
13
13
48
13.0
5.0
.9
.6
.6
2.1
Ashton Hagans
PG
2
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
2.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
References
^ Timberwolves Relieve Ryan Saunders Of His Duties
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Name Chris Finch Head Coach" . NBA.com . February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 .
^ Quinn, Sam (April 22, 2021). "Rockets, Timberwolves officially eliminated from playoff contention with Spurs win" . cbssports.com . Retrieved April 23, 2021 .
^ NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019-20 season with 22 teams returning to play
^ a b c "Timberwolves reacquire Ricky Rubio in 3-team trade" . NBA.com . November 21, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Grizzlies-Timberwolves game postponed for Health and Safety Protocols" . NBA.com . January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021 .
^ "Nets-Timberwolves game postponed" . NBA.com . April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021 .
^ Timberwolves acquire Lessort, 2023 second-round pick for Gophers’ Oturu
^ Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Ed Davis From New York
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves re-sign wing Malik Beasley" . dunkingwithwolves.com . November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Re-Sign Juancho Hernangómez" . NBA.com . November 28, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves re-sign Jordan McLaughlin to two-way contract" . dunkingwithwolves.com . December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ Timberwolves sign Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans to two-way contract
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Sign Tyler Cook" . NBA.com . December 2, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Sign Ade Murkey" . NBA.com . December 3, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Timberwolves Sign Ronade Hollis-Jefferson" . NBA.com . December 3, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ Timberwolves Sign Charlie Brown Jr.
^ a b @KeithSmithNBA (December 19, 2020). "Per league sources, the Minnesota Timberwolves have waived Ade Murkey and signed Zylan Cheatham" (Tweet ). Retrieved June 21, 2021 – via Twitter .
^ "Timberwolves Waive Four Players" . NBA.com . December 19, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ Minnesota Timberwolves Waive Ashton Hagans
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Rivalries Culture and lore