Edwards & Garnett: Timberwolves' Playoff Spark?

Hall of Fame forward Kevin Garnett's recent visit to Target Center provided inspiration for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they head into the NBA playoffs beginning Saturday in Denver. Anthony Edwards expressed the importance of Garnett's presence, calling him the 'greatest Timberwolf of all time' and hoping for his return during the playoffs to energize the team.

Coach Chris Finch acknowledged the team's inconsistent performance over the past three months, stating, 'We do have a switch to flip, and we have to flip it now.' The Timberwolves aim to recapture the form that led them to the Western Conference finals in previous years, with Edwards being the central figure.

Edwards, who averaged career-highs of 28.8 points and shot efficiently in the 2025-26 season, admitted the team felt like they were just getting through the season. A significant area of concern has been defense, where the team regressed to eighth in defensive rating after ranking sixth the previous season and first in 2023-24.

Center Rudy Gobert emphasized the urgency, stating, 'We know that if we don't come out hungry, we don't have a chance.' Edwards, having been limited to 61 games due to knee pain, has focused on improving his conditioning, reducing his weight to 218 pounds to be in better shape for the postseason.