Their esprit de corps was evident everywhere. On defense. On offense. In huddles. In their steadfast refusal to go down without a fight.

The Timberwolves won a game Wednesday night but don't be fooled into labeling it just one of 82 games in a season. Some games carry more significance than others in what they reveal and might lead to next.

The Wolves followed up their most successful month in nearly two decades with a win that felt defining, or at least signals that the team that everyone anticipated before the season is finally coming to fruition.

Down 14 to the Golden State Warriors, the Wolves dug in their heels to pull off their most gut-check win of the season, 119-114 in overtime without Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.

D'Angelo Russell performed his best Stephen Curry impersonation in the fourth quarter to bring the Wolves back from the precipice before fouling out 38 seconds into overtime.

Anthony Edwards shook off a cold-shooting night by attacking the entire Warriors defense for a fire-in-his-eyes driving layup.

Naz Reid showed his value with another workmanlike effort that included the final dagger, a throwdown dunk off his own miss.

Target Center exploded in boisterous appreciation for the effort. The arena finally felt like it did last season when the Wolves played a fun, entertaining, endearing style of basketball.

The Wolves have infuriated their fan base with unprofessional efforts in inexcusable losses at different times this season. The competitive fight on display against the Warriors when things looked bleak provided more evidence that the Wolves are figuring things out.

Not since 2004 had they won 11 games in any month, a benchmark the Wolves reached in January. They started February with a bang.

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