Now that the 2023-24 NBA season schedule for the Minnesota Timberwolves is set, how do we see the upcoming season playing out? Well, that’s a tough call, isn’t it? After all, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have an open roster slot to fill out their 15-player roster, as well as an open slot on their available Two-Way contracts.
But assuming that the Timberwolves roster is all but set and that the team is expected to remain relatively healthy for the 2023-24 NBA season, it’s time to dust off our crystal ball and try to peer into the future. After all, now that the regular season schedule is NEARLY set (December 2-11 scheduled games are yet to be decided as they will be determined by the NBA In-Season Tournament play), we have a chance to sample our soothsaying and channel our clairvoyance.
So how do we see our 2022-24 NBA schedule playing out?
The Minnesota Timberwolves 2023-24 NBA schedule is out.pic.twitter.com/2kLFWTS3P4
— Bret Stuter 🏈🐑+ 🏀🐺 (@milroyigglesfan) August 17, 2023
To aid in our assessment, let’s break this down in terms of month-to-month predictions.
October 2023: 3 games {3 games}
With one home game and two road games, the Minnesota Timberwolves face early challenges right out of the gates. The challenge in the early going is not just who the Timberwolves must face, but also the simple fact that the team opens the regular season in Toronto, Canada against the Toronto Raptors, returns home for one game against the Miami Heat, and then jets off to face the Atlanta Hawks.
I don’t like the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road early in the season, but if the Timberwolves are to have any hope of earning a respectable berth in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Timberwolves must play well on the road this season.
The game that is the most concerning this month is the game against the Miami Heat. I think the Timberwolves will prevail in that one, launching the team to an early winning streak and setting the stage for a solid season.
A great start to what could be an awesome season.
November 2023: 15 games {18 games}
The month of November 2023 begins with a four-game home stand, followed by a grueling five-game road trip. Over the course of November 2023, the Timberwolves will have played nine games at the friendly and familiar confines of Target Center, while the team will have six games on the road.
Normally, that would seem to be an advantage for the Timberwolves. But it just so happens that the Timberwolves will have four of their Round 1 games of the NBA In-Season Tournament over the course of the month. Those games are:
- Date Opponent Time
- Nov 10 @ San Antonio Spurs 7:00 pm CT
- Nov 14 @ Golden State Warriors 9:00 pm CT
- Nov 24 Sacramento Kings 7:00 pm CT
- Nov 28 Oklahoma City Thunder 7:00 pm CT
Those games are intermingled with the other Timberwolves scheduled games. Worse yet, the Timberwolves play back-to-back road games on November 14 on the road against the Golden State Warriors, and then on the road on November 15 against the Phoenix Suns. The Timberwolves will have a very tough time to win either of those games.
But I have confidence in the Minnesota Timberwolves. While they will lose a few games on the road, they will impress fans with a solid showing at home. And as long as the team can avoid lengthy losing streaks, the team will have a shot at turning some heads.
I think the team can go 9-6 in the month of November 2023. As long as the team stays relatively healthy, the starting five will start to get into a groove.
December 2023: 13 games {31 games}
The month of December 2023 will be brutal for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Due to the introduction of Round 2 of the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Timberwolves have a block of dates set aside for games that will be scheduled from December 4 through 9. That creates a bit of a vacuum in what we know about the Timberwolves’ schedule for that period of time.
Of the 11 games that fall on the team’s schedule outside of those dates, the Timberwolves play just four games at home, and seven games on the road. To complete the 82-game schedule, the month of December 2023 will include one additional home game and one additional road game.
In December, we know that the Timberwolves will face one back-to-back as the Timberwolves will face the pesky Philadelphia 76ers on the road on December 20, 2023 (nationally televised on NBA-TV) but will return home to Target Center to host the Los Angeles Lakers the very next day on December 21, 2023.
Even with so many games on the road, I’m hopeful that the TImberwolves can win more games in December than the team loses. With that hope, I believe that the Timberwolves can hold a 7-6 record for the month, and that will keep them buoyed for some postseason discussions
January 2024: 17 games {48 games}
With the new year arriving, the Timberwolves will find themselves once more tested by competing on the road. For the month of January 2024, the Timberwolves will play 10 games on the road, and just seven games at home.
Worst of all, the Timberwolves must endure the challenges of three separate back-to-back games in the month. The first in a pair of road games, as the Timberwolves must travel to play the Orlando Magic on January 9, 2024, followed by flying up the East Coast to play the Boston Celtics in Boston Massachusettes on January 10.
The next back-to-back occurs when the Minnesota Timberwolves must face the Detroit Pistons on the road on January 17, 2024, but then return home the very next day to host the Memphis Grizzlies on January 18, 2024. Finally, the Timberwolves face their third back-to-back when the team faces the Washington Wizards on the road on January 24, 2024, followed by a trip to take on the Brooklyn Nets the following day on January 25, 2024.
In the sheer number of games, January 2024 is the most demanding month in the Timberwolves’ 2023-24 NBA season. 17 games, with 10 of them on the road, is a very difficult way to face the heart of the schedule. Still, I think the Timberwolves can prevail, eeking out nine wins to eight losses to sustain their hopes for a berth in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
February 2024: 11 games {59 games}
While February 2024 is 29 days long, the Timberwolves catch a break by competing in just 11 games during the month. And while the Timberwolves must pack their bags and compete on a five-game road trip, the team actually plays six games at home, and just five games on the road this month.
Despite the light schedule, the NBA schedulers did the Timberwolves no favors and scheduled three back-to-backs in the month of February. The first back-to-back occurs as the Timberwolves travel to take on the L.A. Clippers on February 12, 2024, followed by a trip up the West Coast to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on February 13, 2024.
The next back-to-back occurs as the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Milwaukee Bucs on February 23, 2024. The Wolves are back the very next day to host the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2024. Finally, the homestand ends with a third back-to-back when the Timberwolves host the San Antonio Spurs on February 27, 2024, followed by another home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 28, 2024.
If you are keeping track, the Minnesota Timberwolves play both of their home games against the Memphis Grizzlies as the second of two games at the back end of back-to-backs. That seems notoriously more than mere coincidence.
Even with three back-to-backs, and four very competitive games over the course of four days, I believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to advance up the standings once more. In fact, I could see the Timberwolves finishing the month of February 2024 with a record of 8-3.
March 2024: 15 games {74 games}
By now, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be trying to expand their rotations to allow some of their veteran starters to lighten the load in preparation for the NBA Playoffs. For the month, the Minnesota Timberwolves must play eight home games in the month of March 2024, and hit the road for seven more games.
In the month of March, the Timberwolves once more face three back-to-backs. The first occurs when the Timberwolves host the L.A. Clippers on March 3, 2024, and immediately followed by the Timberwolves competing against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center on March 4, 2024.
The second back-to-back finds the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road again. beginning with the Timberwolves traveling to play the Indiana Pacers on March 7, 2024. The next day, the Wolves arrive in Cleveland, Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 8, 2024. The third and final back-to-back series for the Minnesota Timberwolves occurs on March 18, 2024, when the Timberwolves take on the Utah Jazz. The Timberwolves return home the very next day and host the Denver Nuggets on March 19, 2024.
The Timberwolves must play a six-game road trip in the month, bookended by a seven-game home stand, and returning home to play four games at home.
Despite the lengthy season, I believe that the Timberwolves can finish the month of March 2024 with a strong effort. In fact, I project the team to win 10 games and lose just five games in the month of March 2024.
April 2024: 8 games {82 games}
With the final eight games, the Minnesota Timberwolves want to close out the season strong. But with two games against the Phoenix Suns and a game against the Denver Nuggets, a strong finish may not be in the cards. The Minnesota Timberwolves finish the 2023-24 NBA season with five home games and three road games.
Even with just eight games, the NBA schedulers were still able to burden the Timberwolves with two back-to-back series. The first back-to-back series takes place at Target Center, as the Timberwolves host the Houston Rockets on April 2, 2024. The Wolves must suit up the very next day to host the Toronto Raptors on April 3, 2024.
The Timberwolves’ final back-to-back occurs on April 9, 2024, as the team hosts the Washington Wizards. The very next day, the Minnesota Timberwolves must catch a flight to Denver, Colorado, where the team will face the Denver Nuggets.
The Timberwolves will have a tough time closing out the season, as they have games against the Phoenix Suns (X2), the Denver Nuggets, and the Los Angeles Lakers. And the Timberwolves could easily lose all four of those games.
But I don’t think that All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards will let this team let up off the accelerator. With that in mind, I think the Timberwolves end the season with a record of 4-4 for the month of April 2024.
That means that the Minnesota Timberwolves could end the 2023-24 NBA season with a record of 50-32. Too optimistic?
Don’t fool yourself. The Timberwolves won 42 games last season. With a full season of PG Mike Conley Jr, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and a healthy Karl-Anthony Towns, eight more wins should be well within reach for the team this season.