Ask NBA fans which team turned heads last season and Minnesota Timberwolves would probably be a common answer. Led by rising superstar Anthony EdwardsThey made a lot of noise, racking up wins as a top contender in the West. Plus, it was their playoff run that really got them talked about in the basketball world. Timberwolves upset Phoenix Suns in first roundquickly ending their streak with a sweep. Then they faced the Denver Nuggetsand it ended with a seven-game series full of brilliance. After winning Games 1 and 2, Minnesota lost three games in a row, putting themselves in a precarious position. However, they came out victorious in the last two outings, definitively dethroning the 2023 NBA champions.
A loss in the Western Conference Finals ended their campaign, but the Timberwolves still defied expectations. They made the WCF for the first time in two decades, and individual awards went to players like Anthony Edwards (All-NBA First Team), Rudy Gobert (Defensive Player of the Year), Naz Reid (Sixth Man of the Year) and Jaden McDaniels (All-Defensive Second Team).
With the same core of players returning for another year, the team should once again post an impressive record. As for the exact number of wins they will get this time around, we will predict that at the end of the article. First, here is a look at the schedule and some analysis of the team.
The Timberwolves’ 2024-25 schedule
The 2024-25 NBA schedules are now available to the general public, so fans are likely busy preparing their schedules right now. For Timberwolves fans, there is an exciting lineup of games to kick off the season. The team will travel to Los Angeles for its season opener against LeBron James and the Lakers on October 22. Additionally, matchups against two heavyweights are included in the team’s first five games. On October 29, a highly anticipated rematch against the Dallas Mavericks will take place. This will be followed by a November 1 outing against the Nuggets. Both games against the Mavericks and Nuggets will be at home, so Target Center will likely be packed to the brim with cheering fans.
Luckily for Minneapolis fans, the team will play two five-game homestands. The first will take place from February 1-8 and the second will take place from March 14-21.
As for other big home games, a matchup against the Suns is scheduled for November 17. The Timberwolves will also face Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and the rest of the Los Angeles Clippers on November 29. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will be welcomed to Target Center on December 21. In 2025, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the Boston Celtics will travel to Minnesota for a game on January 2. Back-to-back home games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks are scheduled for February 12 and 13, respectively. And on March 4, it will be Joel Embiid, Paul George, and the Philadelphia 76ers who will hear it from the Target Center fans.
The Timberwolves will also play the Mavericks on December 25 in Dallas, which will be the third Christmas game in franchise history. It will certainly be an exciting year for the organization, with a total of 25 nationally televised games. Here is the complete programaccording to NBA.com
Timberwolves by the numbers
As for the team, the Timberwolves were known for one thing last season: defense. With long, athletic defenders and big guys to protect the rim, Minnesota was the best defensive team in the NBA (108.4 defensive rating). A good example of the Timberwolves’ defense was their Game 2 win over the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs. Holding Denver to 34.9 percent shooting, Minnesota forced 16 turnovers en route to a 26-point victory. Crushing double teams, rim protection, quick turnovers – this game may have been one of the team’s best defensive performances in recent memory.
Throughout the season, the Timberwolves have allowed the fewest points per game (106.5) and the lowest field goal percentage (45%) of any team. In the shaded area, the team’s bigs have allowed just 46.1 points per game in the paint, the second-best total in the league in that category.
However, there were concerns on the offensive end. Throughout their campaign, the Timberwolves averaged 114.6 points per game, which placed them in the bottom half of the league. They scored just 113.0 points per game, which was 18th among all NBA teams. While they were efficient at shooting three-pointers (38.7 percent) and were among the top 10 teams in overall shooting efficiency (48.5 percent), concerns such as turnovers and questionable performances in crucial moments haunted the team.
The Timberwolves have struggled to take care of the ball, committing 14.2 turnovers per game, 22nd among all NBA teams. And in crunch time (the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the game is within five points), the Timberwolves’ shooting efficiency has dropped to 42.7 percent. In fact, after the All-Star break, the Timberwolves’ offensive rating in crunch time was the fifth-worst in the NBA (97.1).
Notable additions and final prediction
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The silver lining is that there are more players coming through. In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves were able to secure players like Rob Dillingham from Kentucky and Terrence Shannon Jr. from Illinois. And among the free agents, Joe Ingles was retained.
Dillingham averaged 15.2 points per game for the Wildcats last season. A point guard who can create and score, he’ll likely play behind Mike Conley next season. Conley isn’t getting any younger either, so if Dillingham’s development goes as planned, he could very well be the next guy to take over the starting point guard role in the years to come.
As for Shannon Jr., he’s a wing who averaged 23 points per game with the Fighting Illini last year. Despite the loaded wing position in Minnesota, Shannon Jr. could get his minutes because of his aggressiveness and quickness in transition. He also has the physical tools to be a formidable perimeter defender, something Chris Finch will surely appreciate.
Finally, there’s Ingles, who brings a three-point shot as a backup. He may be 36, but the former Orlando Magic wing shot 43.5 percent from three-point range last season, giving the team another weapon.
The final prediction? Another year together means better cohesion and a full offseason for the team to work on its offensive issues. With more reinforcements to their already competitive roster, the Timberwolves should likely post a better record this time around.
Prediction: 58-24
