Bones Hyland gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a useful spark on Wednesday, scoring 13 points and handing out three assists in 16 minutes during a 119-114 loss. It was a strong reminder that Hyland can still help when his number is called, especially with Anthony Edwards injured and the Wolves reshuffling their rotation.
Hyland checked in in the middle of the third quarter with Minnesota trailing 82-64. By the end of the quarter, he and the bench had helped cut the deficit to 12, giving the Wolves a brief lift in a game that otherwise stayed close down the stretch. He finished 4-for-7 from the field.
A bigger bench role is coming
The performance matters because Hyland is now positioned for a larger role off the bench. With Edwards expected to miss two months or so, Minnesota needs more creation from its second unit, and there is some uncertainty around the backcourt because Ayo Dosunmu is starting. That opens the door for Hyland to play a more important part than he did earlier in the season.
That would be a notable turn for a player who was outside the Wolves' rotation at the start of the season and was used only in situational minutes. Last season, Hyland averaged 8.5 points off the bench for Minnesota, then fell out of the rotation in the playoffs. Now, the Timberwolves need a different version of him: less of a depth piece and more of a reliable bench guard who can provide points and keep the offense moving.
Wednesday's outing was a good start. If Hyland can build on it, Minnesota may have found a useful stopgap while Edwards recovers.
