NBA Power Rankings: Are the Miami Heat the league's hottest team?

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves rank second in net rating (plus-11.2), 10th in offensive rating (115.5) and first in defensive rating (104.3) over the last 10 games.

This team continues to butter its bread on the defensive end, where it has ranked at or near the top of the league all season. Minnesota’s size with Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels grinds opposing offenses into the mud, but the biggest difference over this 7-3 stretch has been Anthony Edwards.

Edwards is playing like an MVP candidate, averaging 28.7 points over the last 10 games, the third-highest mark in the league over that stretch. The Timberwolves have also started to clean up some of the turnover issues that have plagued them at the end of close games.

The Timberwolves have recent statement wins over the Bucks and Clippers, the latter of which seemed like an important moment for Gobert, who managed to stay on the floor against LA’s five-out offense.