By the numbers: Timberwolves among NBA's worst clutch-time teams

With a 41.9% win rate in clutch-time games, the Timberwolves rank 25th in the NBA. Only the Pelicans, Wizards, Hornets, Raptors and Jazz are worse.

Feb 3, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) has a discussion with referee Josh Tiven about a call in the fourth quarter of the game with the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images / Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Imagine where the Timberwolves would rank in the standings if they hadn't blown so many fourth-quarter leads. How many have they blown this season? Thirteen. But it's not just bad luck.

Minnesota is 50 games into the season and they've played a league-leading 31 clutch-time games. Monday night's 116-114 loss to the Kings was their NBA-leading 16th game decided by three points or less, and their 13th loss after leading in the fourth quarter.

The Wolves are 8-8 in games decided by three points or less, but at one point they were 7-3 in games meeting that criteria. They've dropped five of the last six such games: 116-114 to Sacramento; 105-103 to Washington; 108-106 to Memphis; 116-115 to Golden State; and 127-125 to Memphis.

Had the Wolves simply held on to win five of the 13 games they've blown the lead in the fourth quarter, their record would be 32-18, which would be good for fourth in the Western Conference and only a half-game behind the Houston Rockets. Had the Wolves won 10 of the 13 games they've blown the lead in the final 12 minutes, they'd have the third-best record in the NBA at 37-13.

Wishful thinking? Sure, but it's true.

Minnesota is 13-18 in 31 clutch-time games, which are defined as games in which the score is within five points in the final five minutes of action.

With a 41.9% win rate in clutch-time games, the Timberwolves rank 25th in the NBA. Only the Pelicans, Wizards, Hornets, Raptors and Jazz are worse. And, yes, that means Minnesota is performing in crunch time like a team destined for the top half of the draft lottery when in reality they are perceived as one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

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We can dig deeper....

When the game is within five points in the final five minutes, Minnesota is shooting a dreadful 40.7% from the field and 25.3% from three. Those metrics rank 22nd and 28th, respectively. They're also shooting 73.3% from the free-throw line in clutch time, which ranks 24th.

But wait, there's more...

Minnesota is 8-18 when behind by five points or fewer or tied in the final five minutes this season. When behind by five or less or tied in the last two minutes, they're 6-16.

Still more...

When the Wolves are trailing by three points or fewer in the final two minutes, they are 6-13. On the flip side, when the Wolves are up by three or fewer in the final two minutes, they are 11-4.

They simply haven't shown much of an ability to beat teams when trailing—even by the slimmest of margins—late in games. It's a problem, but if Minnesota solves the problem they could instantly become one of the true beasts in the West.