Minnesota Timberwolves schedule release: A packed second half

If you thought the Minnesota Timberwolves’ First Half schedule was weird, well, we’re just getting started.

The Second Half schedule has been released, and while there are certainly a few takeaways, the key one is this: the Wolves will be playing 36 games in 66 days.

Minnesota Timberwolves schedule release: A packed second half

The Wolves aren’t alone in this daunting task, of course, but the Wolves’ first half worked out to 37 games in 73 games. Things are about to get even tighter.

Included in the second half of the schedule for Minnesota are eight back-to-backs, only four of which will include both games at Target Center. For the season, the Wolves are scheduled to play 16 back-to-backs after completing 13 such sets last season.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Second Half schedule quirks

There will still be a few pandemic-induced quirks in the schedule for the Wolves.

The Wolves will play a back-to-back set against the Suns in Phoenix in just a few weeks, on March 18 and 19. There’s a home back-to-back against the Houston Rockets the following weekend, and then a road back-to-back against the Kings with both games in Sacramento on April 20 and 21.

The only home-road back-to-back comes against different teams, a home game on April 26 against the Utah Jazz and a road game in Houston on April 27.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Second Half strength of schedule

The Wolves’ second half opens with 10 consecutive games against Western Conference opponents, including five straight games against teams in the top-five of the West.

The first game out of the gate is against New Orleans, which is only a half-game away from breaking into the top 10 in the West and a spot in a play-in game. Then, the murderer’s row of Western Conference opponents.

The latter half of March and much of April is at least a bit easier, as far as schedules go, with three games apiece against fellow non-playoff teams Sacramento and Houston, each of whom the Wolves have yet to play this season. Minnesota also has a game against Detroit on April 11; they are the only other team in the NBA currently holding a single-digit win total.

Also notable: the Wolves have one nationally-televised game in the second half, coming on Sunday, April 18 against the LA Clippers on NBA TV.