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Minnesota Timberwolves: Road woes and previewing upcoming schedule

By Andrew Neururer

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 21: the Minnesota Timberwolves huddle up prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on December 21, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 21: the Minnesota Timberwolves huddle up prior to the game against the San Antonio Spurs on December 21, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to struggle on the road, losing another one to the San Antonio Spurs 98-124 on Friday night. Here’s a look at where the Wolves may find success in their upcoming road schedule.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the worse teams in the NBA when it comes to performance on the road. There’s only one other team that has the same amount of wins on the road as Minnesota and that’s the Dallas Mavericks. Even the teams with under 10 wins have more wins on the road than both the Wolves and Mavs.

When the Wolves are on the road, they have a record of just 2-13. If Minnesota wants any chance of making the playoffs, they will need to find a way to have more success.

Minnesota is currently 14-18, with a large portion of their wins coming at home in the Target Center. It’s obviously a lot easier to win at home, but this is not an ideal situation for the Timberwolves.

Here’s a look at the Wolves success at home and on the road.

  • Home: 113.7 PPG, 45.7 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 110.5 Offensive Rating, 105.2 Defensive Rating
  • Road: 107.5 PPG, 43.7 FG%, 34.4 3P%, 106.6 Offensive Rating, 115.1 Defensive Rating

The difference between the two are night-and-day, especially when looking at the offensive and defensive rating. The most daunting piece between the home and road differential, is the defensive rating. The Wolves are almost 10 points off when they are playing on the road.

The Timberwolves just took another painful loss on the road, getting severely beat up by the San Antonio Spurs. Before that, the Wolves played four games on the road and lost all of them, even to the Phoenix Suns – a team that currently has the worst record in the NBA.

Minnesota’s next five opponents on the road aren’t as bad. They will play the following: Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Boston Celtics. If were being generous, the Wolves should hopefully come out winning at least two or three of those games.

The games that are the most winnable include the Bulls, Heat and Pelicans. The Bulls are facing a lot of injuries, namely to Zach LaVine and Bobby Portis – not to mention that they have one of the worst records in the league.

The Heat are better on the road than they are at home oddly enough. They’re currently 14-16 and just lost their starting point guard, Goran Dragic, for quite some time. This is a perfect time for Minnesota to pounce on this opportunity.

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The Pelicans might be the harder one to win of the three, just because Anthony Davis is so darn good. New Orleans has also struggled this season, sitting only one spot above the Wolves at 15-18. Minnesota beat the Pelicans already this season in their first game after the Jimmy Butler trade. However, New Orleans is 11-5 at home this season, so winning one down south will not be an easy one.

The next five games on the road is the teams best chance at winning and possibly riding some success the rest of the season. If they are unable to capitalize, the next possible winning opportunity doesn’t come till late January going into February.

In those games they will play the Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzles, Orlando Magic and Pelicans. Some are harder than others, but there is definitely winnable games. It’s just a matter of executing on the road and building success.

If they can do that, the Wolves will have a better shot of making the playoffs. It’s a tough Western Conference, but no team will make it if they are unable to win games on the road.

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