Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards noted the play of Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo when speaking about the team’s 119-115 win over the Boston Celtics in a postgame interview on Nov. 29. 

Edwards said the two played a role in the Timberwolves' emerging with the victory, citing their defensive effort.

“Jaden [McDaniels] and Donte [DiVincenzo], the way they guarded, they changed the intensity of the game, I think,” Edwards said. 

Edwards added that playing harder and getting to the ball were focus points for Minnesota coming out of halftime, especially in defending Jaylen Brown – who scored 41 points in the contest. 

“They weren’t really easy, it was kind of tough shots, but [Brown] was comfortable,” Edwards said. “So just try to affect him a little more, and [McDaniels and DiVincenzo] did that.”

McDaniels finished with eight points on the night, while DiVincenzo had 15. 

Edwards was right to praise the duo’s defensive prowess against the Celtics, especially since Minnesota is one of the better teams in the league on that side of the ball. The Timberwolves are currently 11th in defensive rating. 

And that rating will likely only get better as the season progresses, as the three consecutive losses Minnesota suffered coming into play against Boston undoubtedly hurt that mark. 

The Timberwolves currently hold an 11-8 record, still having yet to emerge as one of the outright contenders in the league, let alone the Western Conference where they currently sit in sixth place behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs. 

Interestingly enough, five of Minnesota’s eight losses in the young season have come against Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, and Denver.

The Timberwolves lost to the Lakers on Oct. 24 and Oct. 29, the Nuggets on Oct. 27 and Nov. 15, and the Thunder more recently on Nov. 26. 

The team has yet to face the Rockets or Spurs, but fittingly will have a chance tonight as Minnesota takes on San Antonio at 7 p.m. EST at the Target Center. 

This game will serve as a chance for the Timberwolves to win their second game in a row and defeat a team ahead of them in the Western Conference standings. 

According to the most recent official NBA injury report, the Spurs will be without two of their premier players in Victor Wembanyama (Left Calf Strain) and Stephon Castle (Left Hip Flexor Strain) tonight as the two continue to work back from their respective injuries.

So this makes it all the more important for the Timberwolves to jump on this opportunity and win against an undermanned San Antonio squad.