The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their impressive start to the 2026-27 NBA season with a 112-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, November 2, at Target Center in Minneapolis. LaMelo Ball delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a season-high 34 points to lead Minnesota to another important win.
In the Bucks vs Timberwolves matchup, Minnesota used a strong fourth-quarter performance to pull away after Milwaukee stayed competitive through three quarters. The victory improved the Timberwolves’ record to 5-3, while the Bucks dropped to 1-6 after suffering another disappointing defeat.
LaMelo Ball was the biggest difference-maker, while Ayo Dosunmu provided valuable contributions across multiple statistical categories. For Milwaukee, Tyler Herro led the scoring effort with 21 points, but the Bucks could not find enough offensive consistency to complete a comeback.
Bucks vs Timberwolves Final Score and Game Results
The Timberwolves defeated the Bucks 112-100 in a competitive contest that featured several momentum changes.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | 18 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 100 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 29 | 19 | 32 | 32 | 112 |
Minnesota started strongly, building an 11-point advantage in the opening quarter. However, Milwaukee responded in the second period and went into halftime trailing by just one point.
The Timberwolves regained control in the third quarter before delivering their strongest stretch of the game in the fourth. Minnesota eventually established a double-digit advantage and protected it until the final buzzer.
The Timberwolves also controlled the overall game statistics, shooting 43% from the field compared with Milwaukee’s 38%.
LaMelo Ball Leads Minnesota With Season-High 34 Points
LaMelo Ball produced his best scoring performance of the season, finishing with 34 points in the victory over Milwaukee.
Ball shot 12-of-21 from the field and connected on six of his 13 attempts from three-point range. He also converted four of five free throws while consistently putting pressure on the Bucks’ defense.
His impact was particularly noticeable in the opening quarter, when he scored 11 points in approximately five minutes. His aggressive shooting helped Minnesota establish an early advantage.
Ball continued his excellent performance in the second quarter, scoring 24 of Minnesota’s 48 first-half points.
With Anthony Edwards sidelined by injury, Minnesota needed someone to take greater responsibility offensively. Ball responded by becoming the primary scoring option and giving the Timberwolves the offensive production they needed.
His ability to create shots from the perimeter and attack the basket made him extremely difficult for Milwaukee to contain.
Ayo Dosunmu Delivers an All-Around Performance
Ayo Dosunmu was another major contributor in the Timberwolves’ victory.
While Ball handled much of the scoring responsibility, Dosunmu focused on creating opportunities for teammates, attacking the basket and controlling the rebounds.
He finished with an impressive 19 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Dosunmu’s versatility became particularly important during the third quarter, when Milwaukee continued to challenge Minnesota. His ability to drive toward the basket and finish around the rim helped the Timberwolves maintain their advantage.
He also finished as Minnesota’s leading rebounder and assist provider, making his performance one of the most complete displays of the night.
Tyler Herro Leads the Milwaukee Bucks
Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 21 points, but his performance was not enough to prevent another defeat.
Herro finished 8-of-18 from the field and scored important baskets during Milwaukee’s second-quarter comeback. His consecutive three-pointers late in the first half helped the Bucks reduce Minnesota’s early advantage to just one point.
However, Milwaukee struggled to maintain that offensive momentum after halftime.
The Bucks received contributions from several players, but their shooting efficiency and inability to consistently stop Minnesota’s offense proved costly.
Milwaukee shot just 38% from the field and 31% from three-point range.
Bucks vs Timberwolves Match Player Stats
Here are the leading player performances from the Milwaukee Bucks vs Minnesota Timberwolves matchup.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaMelo Ball | Timberwolves | 34 | — | — |
| Ayo Dosunmu | Timberwolves | 19 | 12 | 8 |
| Tyler Herro | Bucks | 21 | — | — |
| Trey Lyles | Timberwolves | 10 (Q3) | — | — |
| Brayden Burries | Bucks | — | 9 | — |
LaMelo Ball’s 34 points were the highest individual scoring total in the matchup. Dosunmu’s triple-category contribution also played a significant role in Minnesota’s victory.
Team Statistics: Minnesota Controls the Game
The Timberwolves were more efficient offensively and performed better in several important statistical categories.
| Team Statistics | Bucks | Timberwolves |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal Percentage | 38% | 43% |
| Field Goals Made | 38 | 41 |
| Three-Point Percentage | 31% | 36% |
| Three-Pointers Made | 15 | 16 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 75% | 54% |
| Turnovers | 17 | 11 |
| Total Rebounds | 53 | 59 |
| Largest Lead | 3 | 15 |
Minnesota’s six-turnover advantage was particularly important. The Timberwolves committed just 11 turnovers, compared with 17 by Milwaukee.
The home team also dominated the rebounding battle, collecting 59 rebounds against the Bucks’ 53.
Although Milwaukee had a better free-throw percentage, Minnesota’s advantages in shooting efficiency, ball security and rebounding helped secure the victory.
How the Timberwolves Won the Fourth Quarter
The game remained competitive entering the final period, but Minnesota eventually found the separation it needed.
Joan Beringer and Jaylen Clark provided an important boost when the Timberwolves needed additional energy. Their contributions helped Minnesota create a double-digit advantage after Milwaukee had remained within reach for much of the contest.
The Bucks also attempted to slow down Rudy Gobert by repeatedly sending him to the free-throw line. However, Minnesota managed to adjust and knocked down important three-pointers to close out the game.
The Timberwolves finished the fourth quarter with 32 points, compared with Milwaukee’s 24.
That eight-point difference helped Minnesota turn a competitive contest into a comfortable 12-point victory.
Bucks vs Timberwolves: Season Standings After the Game
The result had different implications for both teams as the 2026-27 NBA season continued.
Milwaukee Bucks: The defeat dropped Milwaukee to 1-6 overall and extended its losing streak to three games. The Bucks continued to struggle in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Minnesota improved to 5-3, moving into a stronger position in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division. The victory also helped the team build momentum despite dealing with injuries.
For Minnesota, finding consistent offensive production from LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu could be particularly important while Anthony Edwards remains unavailable.
What’s Next for the Bucks and Timberwolves?
The Timberwolves will travel to face the Houston Rockets in their next matchup. Houston has also made an impressive start to the season, entering the contest with a 6-1 record.
Minnesota will look to carry its winning momentum into that challenging road game.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, will need to find answers after another disappointing performance. The Bucks have struggled to establish consistency, and improving their defensive intensity and shooting efficiency will be essential as they attempt to turn their season around.
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on December 24, 2026, when Milwaukee hosts Minnesota.
Final Thoughts
The Bucks vs Timberwolves game ended with a convincing 112-100 victory for Minnesota, powered by LaMelo Ball’s season-high 34 points and Ayo Dosunmu’s outstanding all-around contribution.
Milwaukee showed resilience after falling behind early, but its offensive struggles and defensive problems eventually allowed Minnesota to take control.
For the Timberwolves, this was an encouraging performance that demonstrated their scoring depth and ability to compete even without Anthony Edwards. For the Bucks, the latest defeat highlighted the need for significant improvements as they look to recover from a difficult start to the season.
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