Some of the excitement around Wednesday night's wire-to-wire 112-99 Timberwolves victory over the 76ers disappeared during the afternoon, when Philadelphia declared reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid out because of hip soreness.
But that just presented an opportunity for the Wolves, one they took advantage of to improve their perfect home record this season to 7-0 and remain in first place in the Western Conference.
The night wasn't perfect. The Wolves (11-3) overcame some sluggishness in the second quarter, when they almost gave up all of a 19-point lead. But they got their act together in the second half to turn the game into a rout.