Timberwolves 116, Bucks 97: the LaMelo era opens at full sprint
Minnesota ran Milwaukee off its own floor in Monday's preseason opener, winning the fast-break battle 26-9 and cruising even after resting its starters for the entire second half.
Preseason results are disposable; preseason identities are not. And in a 116-97 win over the Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Monday night, the Timberwolves showed off a new one built around pace — with new arrival LaMelo Ball pushing the tempo from the opening tip.
How it unfolded
Minnesota took the first quarter 31-20, led by as many as 21, and held the lead for more than 46 of the game's 48 minutes, according to Sofascore's recap. Milwaukee's only real push came in a 29-21 third quarter that trimmed the gap to 81-77 — but the Wolves' second unit slammed the door with a 35-20 fourth, shooting 62 percent from the field in the final frame while the Bucks coughed up six turnovers.
The underlying numbers were lopsided. Minnesota won fast-break points 26-9, dominated inside the arc (31-of-52 on twos to Milwaukee's 14-of-44) and out-rebounded the Bucks 51-47. Milwaukee shot just 33 percent for the game, per Last Word on Basketball, which noted the hosts were held to 29 percent before halftime.
Who stood out
Anthony Edwards was efficient in a short shift — 14 points, 5-of-5 from the line, two blocks and a team-best plus-13 — and Ball added 11 points and three assists in 17 minutes while setting the tone in transition — a running game that produced back-to-back alley-oops, Bones Hyland to Jonathan Kuminga and then Edwards to Rudy Gobert. Off the bench, Antonio Reeves went a perfect 5-of-5 for 12 points and rookie big Joan Beringer posted 12 points and seven rebounds.
For a Bucks team taking its first steps into life after the offseason trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the brightest spots were Ryan Rollins (15 points) and Kel'el Ware, who bullied smaller defenders for 14 points and 12 rebounds. Tyler Herro's Milwaukee debut was rougher: 3-of-9 shooting with four turnovers against ball pressure from Ayo Dosunmu and Jaylen Clark.
Why it matters
One October exhibition settles nothing, but it sketched both teams' questions clearly: Minnesota wants to run, and its bench already can; Milwaukee is still working out who it is — and who guards the paint — in its new era.