Timberwolves humbled at home by young Nets for second consecutive loss

Chip Scoggins, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Dec 27, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Brooklyn Nets arrived in Minnesota with the NBA’s youngest roster, the lowest scoring average in the league and only nine wins.

The Timberwolves handled the assignment as if they were still distracted by an emotionally charged overtime loss in Denver two nights earlier.

Asleep defensively all game, the Wolves watched the Nets build an 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter and hold on for a 123-107 victory Saturday night at Target Center.

The visitors were the better team all game by just about every measure.

They outscored the Wolves in points in the paint by a staggering 66-46 margin.

Bench scoring: Nets 62, Wolves 33.

Rebounding: Nets 39, Wolves 34.

Assists: Nets 32, Wolves 27.

It was an overall flat, lackluster performance by the Wolves (20-12), who had won 10 of 12 games before losing their past two.

The Nets own the league’s No. 1 defense in scoring and shooting percentage in December games. They confounded the Wolves on the other end of the court.

The Nets average 109 points per game. They put 98 on the scoreboard through three quarters, often from point-blank range.

The Nets treated the first half like a layup and dunk exhibition, scoring 46 points in the paint. They entered the game averaging 41 points in the paint per game, last in the NBA.

Their guards repeatedly found gaps in the Wolves defense to pierce the paint for easy shots at the basket. They shot 59% in the half to lead by as much as nine points.

Anthony Edwards, who was ejected near the end of overtime against the Nuggets, led the Wolves with 28 points.

Cam Thomas paced the Nets (10-19) with 30 points off the bench.