Minnesota Timberwolves: Predicting the Wolves’ second-half record

Projected Minnesota Timberwolves May record: 5-3

Due to COVID-19, the regular season ends will end in the middle of May instead of April. The NBA hasn’t played regular-season games in May since the lockout-shortened season of 1999-2000. The Wolves, for their part, haven’t played a game of any kind in May since 2004, the year of their run to the Western Conference Championship.

Even though the last eight games are almost certainly going to be meaningless in regards to playoff contention, it will still be important to gain some level of positive momentum going into next season.

Only three of the eight games are against teams that are currently in a playoff spot, although much could change over the next several weeks. Five of the games in May are home games, and, as of now, the team has a slightly better record when playing at Target Center.

You could argue that these games could be tougher because some of these teams might be fighting for a chance to earn a spot in the play-in games or a straight-up playoff spot, but even still, it’s a less daunting task then playing the league’s best teams.

In May, the Wolves will face the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets. All three are opponents whom the Wolves led going into the fourth quarter in contests earlier this season before flat-out giving the game away. In fact, Minnesota didn’t even score over 25 points in any of those fourth quarters.

Ending the season on a high note will be important, not only for the players, but also for new coach Chris Finch and suddenly embattled front office boss Gersson Rosas.

With a healthy roster, a winning record in May is certainly not out of the question.

If all of the above happens, the Wolves will finish with a second-half record of 13-23 and an overall record of 20-52. It will certainly be one of the worst records in the league, but if they indeed win 13 games from here on out, they are unlikely to be at the absolute bottom of the barrel.