The Highest Points Scored Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA History

Since joining the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1989, the Minnesota Timberwolves have witnessed some of the greatest individual scoring performances in league history. From their early days struggling to compete to the present as Western Conference contenders, the Timberwolves have been on the receiving end of unforgettable offensive explosions.

On April 1, 2025, Nikola Jokic delivered one of the greatest individual performances in NBA history, recording a 61-point triple-double against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. The three-time MVP shot 18-of-29 from the field, 6-of-11 from three-point range, and 19-of-24 from the free throw line in 53 minutes as the Denver Nuggets unfortunately fell 140-139 in double overtime.

Jokic added 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals to complete the third 60-point triple-double in NBA history. The Serbian center played all but five minutes throughout the night as his team battled without injured starters Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. He tied the game at 112 in regulation with two free throws and 13.9 seconds remaining, then scored at will through both overtime periods. Despite Jokic's superhuman effort, he became only the second player in NBA history to lose a game with a 50-point triple-double, joining Wilt Chamberlain in 1963. 

*Jokic holds both the #1 and #4 spots on Minnesota's all-time list, having also scored 56 points with 16 rebounds and 15 assists on Christmas Day 2025 in an overtime victory. 

De'Aaron Fox walked into Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center on November 15, 2024, and put together one of the most spectacular individual performances in Sacramento Kings franchise history. The Kings' star guard exploded for a career-high 60 points on 22-of-35 shooting, 6-of-10 from three-point range, and 10-of-11 from the free throw line in 44 minutes, though the Timberwolves held on for a 130-126 overtime victory.

Fox scored 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, carrying Sacramento back from a 20-point second-half deficit with a 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter. His 60 points broke the Kings franchise record previously held by Jack Twyman (59 points in 1960) and bettered DeMarcus Cousins' Sacramento-era record of 56 points set in 2016. 

On March 20, 2023, Julius Randle delivered the highest scoring game of his career, dropping 57 points on 19-of-29 shooting, 8-of-14 from three-point range, and 11-of-13 from the free throw line in just 37 minutes as the New York Knicks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 140-134 at Madison Square Garden.

Randle added 4 rebounds and an assist in the highest-scoring game by a Knick since Carmelo Anthony's franchise-record 62 points in 2014. The All-Star forward was unconscious from the opening tip, making difficult shots look routine and overwhelming a Timberwolves defense that had no answer for his combination of power, touch, and range.

While Tim Duncan (30) and Roger Mason Jr. (26) combined to score 56 points, Tony Parker was the focal point for the San Antonio Spurs first win of the 2008-09 season, scoring a career-high 55 points on 22-of-36 shooting, 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 9-of-10 from the free throw line in 51 minutes as the Spurs defeated the Timberwolves 129-125 in double overtime at Target Center.

Parker added 10 assists and 7 rebounds to his historic performance, hitting a game-tying shot at the end of the first overtime and scoring nine points in the second session to help San Antonio avoid their first 0-4 start since the 1973-74 ABA season. The French point guard was in complete control throughout, with everything working, from signature tear drops to pull-up jumpers, in a performance that would add to his Hall of Fame career.

On April 9, 2021, at 23 years and 37 days old, Jayson Tatum became the youngest player in Boston Celtics franchise history to score 50 points, surpassing Larry Bird, who did it at 26 years and 113 days. Tatum scored a career-high 53 points on 16-of-25 shooting, 6-of-10 from three-point range, and 15-of-16 from the free throw line in 41 minutes as the Boston Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 145-136 in overtime at TD Garden. 

Tatum added 10 rebounds to complete a dominant performance that saw him score 35 points in the second half and overtime, including 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. The Celtics had trailed by 17 points in the third quarter before Tatum took over, scoring 17 points in the period alone to fuel a comeback.