The Timberwolves have already beaten Denver, Boston and Golden State. They look like a team that matches up well against some of the best in the Western Conference. They have the No. 1 defense in the league. In six of their nine games the season, the Wolves have held their opponents to 40 percent shooting or worse. The next best number in the league is Oklahoma City with three. Four times this season the Wolves have done it while also making 50 percent or more of their shots. No other team has done it more than once, according to stats provided by the team.

So while Timberwolves fans revel in the sudden emergence, Finch is digging in and pushing a team that he believes is much better than it has shown in the early going.

“I thought tonight we left a lot of meat on the bone,” Finch said. “We can play a lot better, and that’s not to say we expect to win easily or anything like that. It’s just when you get outrebounded and turn it over and you don’t make the easy, obvious play, that’s a lot of room for growth right there.”