Anthony Edwards’ absence left the Minnesota Timberwolves with more shots to distribute. Their first game without him showed the danger of treating that as the assignment.

Minnesota lost 119-114 to Golden State on Wednesday after falling behind by 24 points. Stephen Curry scored 44, but the Wolves had problems of their own long before their comeback attempt.

Possessions ended quickly. Players drove into crowds. The movement that helped power Minnesota’s 3–0 start gave way to individuals searching for offense. Afterward, Chris Finch, LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga described versions of the same mistake: trying to fill Edwards’ scoring void without first doing the work that creates good shots.

Ball put it plainly.

“We just got to play as a team, not look at it like, ‘Oh, it’s a lot of shots out there,’” he said. “Just stay in the flow.”

Minnesota chased shots before creating advantages

Edwards averaged 33.3 points through Minnesota’s first four games. Replacing that production requires greater responsibility from teammates, particularly Ball, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga and Ayo Dosunmu. It does not require each player to prove he can replace Edwards on the next possession.

Finch felt that urgency disrupted the offense.

“I think it’s just guys feeling that they’ve got to step up and everybody’s got to step up and try to fill some void,” he said.

The problem was how they pursued it. “We don’t have to come out and seek our offense early,” Finch continued. “I thought everybody really kind of launched a deep three on their first touch, and they weren’t going in.”

His assessment of the first half was even shorter: “One pass, one action, one shot.”

That approach made Minnesota easier to defend. Golden State did not have to navigate repeated actions or recover through several passes before an attempt went up. When the Wolves tried to penetrate, they often carried the ball into trouble without leaving themselves an escape.

Finch described players dribbling into double-teams and losing useful passing angles. The issue extended beyond missed jumpers: Minnesota was making its decisions after the defense had already closed the opening.

Jonathan Kuminga included himself in the criticism

Kuminga led Minnesota with 20 points, but he did not exempt himself from the offensive problems. “We all tried to take that seat and be the ones taking shots, including me,” he said.

His explanation pointed toward an adjustment in timing. “The earlier we share the ball, the better position we’re going to be.”

Moving it before the crowd arrives gives the next player a chance to attack a shifting defense. Holding it for another dribble can turn that same possession into a difficult pass or a forced shot.

Terrence Shannon Jr. identified that exact problem in his own play.

“I got to do a better job seeing the pass a little bit earlier,” he noted. “I kind of got too deep a little bit today.”

These were players recognizing correctable decisions. Minnesota needs their aggression, but it needs that aggression connected to what the defense is allowing.

The reserves showed a better approach

The comeback supplied evidence that the Wolves could change course. Beringer, Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland and the other reserves brought energy that helped Minnesota recover from a game threatening to become a blowout. Finch credited their defensive stops and the movement that followed.

“That second unit shared the ball better,” he recognized. “They were able to create some distortion with their body movement.”

Quick passing combinations produced openings. Hustle plays generated additional opportunities. Minnesota started making Golden State respond instead of repeatedly attacking a defense ready for the first action.

Kuminga noticed the difference.

“They gave us a chance. They gave us hope,” he said of the reserves. “The same mindset as the guys that came off the bench, just moving the ball, playing as hard as we can.”

That is the standard Minnesota needs throughout its rotation.

Ball needs support, too

Ball finished with eight points, eight assists and six turnovers. The Wolves need better execution from their new lead creator, but Finch also identified a collective responsibility.

“They’re putting two on him,” he said. “We’ve got to help him.”

Better spacing and actions that create separation can give Ball clearer options. His teammates have to help produce those options rather than wait for him to solve the pressure. Edwards’ absence increases everyone’s responsibility. Wednesday showed why that responsibility must extend beyond scoring.

The Wolves do not need five players trying to become Edwards. They need the next pass to arrive before the advantage disappears.