It was obvious that the Timberwolves needed someone to step up in the wake of Anthony Edwards ' knee injury. But it wasn't obvious that it would be Bones Hyland . Hyland was barely playing before Edwards' injury , and he's still not getting huge minutes. However, Hyland's stats in the four games since Edwards went out show that he's taking advantage of the minutes he does get and has raised his game perhaps as much as any of the Timberwolves.
Hyland struggled to crack coach Chris Finch's regular rotation at the start of the season, which was a bit surprising. He was a valuable contributor off the bench last year, particularly after the Timberwolves traded for Ayo Dosunmu and the two earned the nickname " Twin Turbos " with their fast-paced play.
Hyland started this season as the fifth player off the bench and was largely relegated to mop-up duty in the four games before Edwards' injury. The only exception was a 117-94 win against Toronto, where Hyland played 15 minutes. He was great defensively in that game, notching three blocks and two steals. But he shot 0-5.
In the four games since Edwards' injury, Hyland's has been thrust into the regular rotation and is averaging 16 meaningful minutes per game. Increased production has followed.
Bones had a total of nine points and four assists in the four games before Edwards went out. He's averaging 12.0 points and 4.25 assists per game in the four games since.
The highlight was a 19-point, eight-assist performance in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, but Hyland hasn't been a one-game wonder. He scored in double figures in three of the last four contests.
It's perhaps not surprising that with more minutes, Hyland is scoring more and dishing out more assists. But the impressive thing is that he's doing it without sacrificing any efficiency.
Oct 31, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Hyland is a run-and-gun type combo guard who has the ball in his hands quite a bit when he's on the floor, particularly now that Edwards isn't playing. It would be easy for him to force shots and passes that aren't there. But so far Hyland's stats show that his increased production has come within the flow of the game and the Timberwolves' offense.
In fact, Hyland's efficiency has increased along with his minutes. He was a dismal 2-10 (20%) from the field in his first four games but has shot 19-37 (51%) in the last four. Hyland also has 17 assists to just four turnovers in the last four games. His 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season is well above his career average (2.2) and tied with Jonathan Kuminga for tops on the T-Wolves.
The more Hyland plays, the better he has been.
There are some things that Hyland's stats don't show — intangibles like energy and confidence that he brings to a team still reeling from Edwards' injury. You can see it even in the games the Wolves lose.
In the first game without Edwards, Golden State had jumped out to an 82-61 lead when Hyland checked in late in the third quarter. He immediately assisted on a three-pointer by Trey Lyles , then hit a deep three from the right wing, then assisted on a three-pointer by Jaylen Clark , then hit a three from the left wing. After he dropped in two free throws, Minnesota had cut the lead to 91-81.
The Wolves ultimately lost 119-114, but Hyland was the catalyst for a near-comeback.
Other Timberwolves have proven themselves since Edwards went out . Dosunmu has taken Edwards' place in the starting lineup and upped his scoring. Terrence Shannon Jr. ably backfilled Dosunmu's spot as the team's sixth man until suffering a hip injury. But Hyland's production and efficiency have been the most pleasant surprise. The Timberwolves were getting almost nothing out of him before Edwards went down. Now they're getting a double-digit scorer who is shooting above 50% and dishing out 3.5 assists for every turnover. Hyland's stats don't tell the full story, but what they do show is great news for Wolves fans.
Featured Image: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
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