After five straight losses and a lot of side-eye from fans, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally gave their city something to talk about Monday (Jan. 26) night. Minnesota handled business against a very shorthanded Golden State Warriors, bringing the final score to 108–83, which broke their five-game losing streak. 

This was a gritty, defensive, and very "we’re sick of losing" energy.

BIG. RU. 😤

15 POINTS
17 REBONDS
2 PASSES
2 CONTRES
1 INTERCEPTION

Les @Timberwolves vainqueurs des Warriors ! pic.twitter.com/YFQTi4CzQN

— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) January 27, 2026

Rudy Gobert set the tone early and never let up, posting a strong double-double with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks. Against a smaller Warriors lineup, Gobert looked like a grown man reminding everyone why size still matters in this league. According to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Gobert "re-established his dominance" after a stretch of quieter performances, using his presence to shut down the paint and deter just about everything Golden State tried inside.

Julius Randle chipped in 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Bones Hyland added a spark with 17 points, seven boards, and five assists. 

On the other side, Golden State’s night felt doomed before tip-off. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Anthony Edwards were all sidelined with injuries, and the Warriors were already without Jimmy Butler, who was lost for the season earlier this month after tearing his ACL. 

The Warriors shot an ugly 35 percent from the court and just 23 percent from three while coughing up 19 turnovers.  Brandin Podziemski finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Moses Moody had one of the brighter nights for Golden State, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep things competitive.

🚨 Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards urges Minnesotans to “let ICE do their jobs” after the team’s 108-83 win over Golden State pic.twitter.com/4SGyHZ5WjC

— Will Stancil’s 2011 Honda Fit’s Blown Tranny (@centristpeater) January 27, 2026

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch made it clear afterward that defense was the real star of the night. According to Yahoo Sports, Finch praised his team’s effort, saying, "Guys just flying around, covering for each other. With that group, you’ve just gotta keep closing out, keep containing the ball. And I thought that was better for us." 

That defensive focus has become Minnesota’s blueprint when things go right. According to Yahoo Sports, Monday marked the 14th time this season the Timberwolves have held an opponent under 106 points per 100 possessions and they’re a perfect 14-0 in those games. 

Fans felt the shift immediately. Many called it a "much-needed high-defense victory," with one celebrating that Golden State was held under 90 points, proudly declaring how good it felt to see the Wolves lock in defensively again. Others pointed out the bigger picture, despite recent losses, Minnesota is still shockingly close to the top six in the Western Conference.

Up next, Golden State heads to Utah on Wednesday, Jan.28. As for the Timberwolves, if they can bottle even half of Monday night’s defensive intensity, this might be the moment fans point to later and say, that’s where the season turned.