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Can the Minnesota Timberwolves reach 50 regular season wins?

By Cooper Langby

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 3: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 3: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves currently sit fourth in the Western Conference and first in the Northwest Division. With the tail-end of the season upcoming, can the Timberwolves muscle their way to 50 wins in the regular season?

Fifty wins in the NBA is nothing to scoff at. Exactly 50 wins in the season would give the Timberwolves a .610 win percentage, which last year would’ve only been good enough for sixth in the Western Conference.

Before the NBA season began, ESPN projected the Timberwolves to nab 50.1 wins in the season, however preseason predictions have often led to Wolves fans being disappointed year in and year out.

A more recent prediction from another source, FiveThirtyEight, currently has the Timberwolves reaching 48 wins, with the last week of ups and downs having a clearly negative impact. On a more positive note, the same publication gives the Wolves a 95 percent chance of making the playoffs.

This year’s Timberwolves are certainly a different team from the last few years, with the addition of Jimmy Butler and the maturing game of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins having a huge impact.

The Wolves already have more wins this season than they totaled any of the last three seasons, and apart from the 2013-14 season, since 2005.

The Timberwolves have reached 50 wins just three times in franchise history, the last of which came in 2004, which was the same year that the squad last reached the playoffs.

While signs currently look positive for a playoff appearance, not all is certain with 21 games left in the season and just a five-game difference separating 3rd and 10th in the West.

The Timberwolves would surely love to reach 50 wins, both for the morale boost and the playoff berth that would almost surely guarantee at this point in the season, but with a tough schedule that I recently dissected, it’s certainly not going to be easy.

With 21 games left in the season, the Wolves would need to go at least 14-7 to reach the 50-win milestone. However, an incredibly tough stretch in March that includes games against Boston, Golden State, Washington, San Antonio and Houston might see those hopes unravel for the Timberwolves.

A 14-7 mark is certainly achievable, but it will take determination, effort and a whole lot of Timberwolves spirit to make it happen.

Hopefully Thibs’ large minute rotations haven’t taken their toll on the Wolves this late in the season, and they can play their way to a milestone that won’t soon be forgotten by Wolves fans.

It’s also worth mentioning the Wolves have only ever made the playoffs once with a record under .500, and it’s unlikely a 41-41 record would be enough to see them into the postseason this year with such a competitive Western Conference. Even the 10th-seeded Utah Jazz only need 11 more wins accomplish a .500 record for the season, and they have 24 games to work with. The ninth-seeded Clippers have 26 games to reach the same amount of wins.

While it’s unlikely the Wolves would go 5-16 to close the season out with a disappointing 41-41 record, I’m not sure how many wins I peg them getting just yet. If the Wolves manage to finish the season with at least a winning record of 11-10, it would leave them with a 47-35 record on the season.

All in all, while the 50-win milestone would be an impressive feat, and would certainly be a memorable reward for us long-suffering Wolves fans, a playoff berth (and hopefully, some wins once they get there) are more important at this point. If they can’t make the 50 wins, but 47 can still get them into the playoffs, I’ll be more than happy to call that a success.

After 14 years, even the eighth-seed in the West would be a success at this point, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Next: Towns' All-Star Double Double

The Timberwolves still have a lot of basketball to play this season, and as long as they have the big picture in sight, anything is possible.

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