Robert Covington of the Minnesota Timberwolves believes their recent wins is because of the return of their early-season defensive form. The Wolves have won the past five out of eight games because of their defensive efforts.

Per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves swingman thinks they're back to doing what they used to and are, not surprisingly, winning as a result of it.

During their game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Timberwolves held them to just 13 points in the second quarter. Covington scored 15 points with a team-high two steals to help the Wolves secure the win over the Blazers. They held the Blazers to shooting just 37 percent from the field. In the past eight games, the Wolves have held their opponents shooting below 30-percent from the three-point line. They are currently ranked 15th in defensive rating and are allowing 114.1 points per game.

The Wolves started off hot at the beginning of the season as they won eight of their first 12 games of the season.  However, they went on one of the longest losing streaks in franchise history as they lost 11 in a row. They struggled on the defensive end of the floor during that 11 games stretch. They were ranked 30th in the league in defensive rating.

The Wolves are currently two games behind the San Antonio Spurs who are at the eighth seed. With Karl-Anthony Towns expected to return to the lineup soon, the Wolves could most certainly make a run for the lower playoff seeds. The Wolves are seeking to win two in a row as they face the Houston Rockets this Saturday. Their defense will be tested when guarding James Harden who's averaging an astonishing 38.5 points per game.