If you have been looking for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ schedule for the 2023-24 NBA season, you are in luck. With its release, we can now dissect, examine, and offer some instant analysis of the Timberwolves schedule. But perhaps one of the most pressing questions is how will the Timberwolves handle prime-time television. Well, the answer may be a bit of a letdown. You see, the Timberwolves will only have 10 nationally televised games during the 2023-24 NBA season.
So when are they scheduled to happen?
The 2023-24 Minnesota Timberwolves schedule is out.
— Dunking With Wolves (@DunkingWolvesFS) August 17, 2023
What do you think? 50+ wins?pic.twitter.com/ZwL6nFtnoK
If you cannot read the fine print, here are the televised games:
- Date Opponent Time Network
- Dec 20 @ Philadelphia 6:00 pm CT NBA TV
- Jan 1 @ New York 2:00 pm CT NBA TV
- Jan 18 Memphis 9:00 pm CT TNT
- Feb 28 Memphis 6:30 pm CT ESPN
- Mar 10 @ Los Angeles 8:30 pm CT ESPN
- Mar 12 @ LA Clippers 9:00 pm CT TNT
- Mar 19 Denver 8:00 pm CT NBA TV
- Apr 5 @ Phoenix 9:00 pm CT NBA TV
- Apr 7 @ Los Angeles 9:00 pm CT NBA TV
- Apr 10 @ Denver 9:00 pm CT ESPN
So now the question remains, which of the 10 nationally televised games are the most important for the Minnesota Timberwolves?
Top televised games for Timberwolves
If you want to consider the impact of nationally televised games, keep in mind that the Minnesota Timberwolves have a total of just 10 nationally televised games. And, unless you are paying for the privilege of NBA TV, you are limited to just five nationally televised games. So, how do you rank them?
Well, there’s the rub, isn’t it?
Even after appearing in the NBA Playoffs for two consecutive years, the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the move-overlooked NBA teams this year. And the only way to change that national perception is to shock the entire league by beating expectations. So let’s line up the Wolves’ nationally televised games by importance to see if the team can do exactly that.
V: Mar 12 @ LA Clippers 9:00 pm CT TNT
The Minnesota Timberwolves face a number of teams that feel that they have improved their roster, and the LA Clippers are certainly one of those teams. The Clippers added PG Russell Westbrook to their roster after the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline, and believe that he may be the final piece to get the team over the hump this year.
After finishing their 2022-23 NBA season with a 44-38 record and a 5 seed in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Clippers believe that they can usurp the Denver Nuggets and lay claim to the 2024 NBA Championship. This game falls in the heat of the NBA Playoff push and after the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline. Will the Timberwolves compete with new roster changes?
Changed or not, the Clippers will offer the TImberwolves ample competition to see how playoff ready both teams are:
IV: Jan 18 Memphis 9:00 pm CT TNT
The Minnesota Timberwolves know that even with a 25-game suspension to Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, they remain a formidable opponent. But the Timberwolves will not face the Grizzlies at Target Center until Morant has served that suspension, so you can look for a very motivated and competitive game from the Grizzlies.
These two teams split their four-game series last season, with each team winning both home games. With any luck, the Timberwolves can hold to that trend when hosting the Grizzlies in the 2023-24 NBA season. But with both home games coming in as the second game of back-to-backs, that is a tall order to fill.
III: Mar 10 @ Los Angeles Lakers 8:30 pm CT ESPN
The Los Angeles Lakers have never hesitated to load up on players who for one reason or another had recently parted ways with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And even now, they have point guard D’Angelo Russell, power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, and power forward Taurean Prince on their roster, all of whom were Minnesota Timberwolves players less than 15 months ago.
And so, any occasion for the Timberwolves to take on the Lakers will be touted as an NBA version of a grudge match. Does that match the reality of the games’ true dynamics? Doubtful, as the Timberwolves have no extra incentive to hate on the Lakers, other than normal competitive rivalry.
Of course, the Timberwolves did face and lose to the Lakers in the 2023 Play-In Tournament, a game that then pitted the Lakers against the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. So perhaps there will be a bit of extra incentive for the Timberwolves in this rematch.
II: Feb 28 Memphis 6:30 pm CT ESPN
The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Memphis Grizzlies twice in the 2023-24 NBA season, and on both occasions, that game falls as the second game of a back-to-back. While the Timberwolves hosted the Grizzlies in mid-January, this second game will likely be even more important.
If the ESPN NBA pundits are correct, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the team to watch at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline. The date for the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline is February 8, 2024. Whether or not the Timberwolves pull the trigger on any roster moves, this will be an optimal opportunity to witness just how competitive the team can be as all 30 NBA teams frantically attempt to secure their 2024 NBA Playoff berth.
If the Memphis Grizzlies struggle this season, the Timberwolves could deliver a crushing blow to their playoff hopes with a win here.
I: Apr 10 @ Denver 9:00 pm CT ESPN
Whether or not the Denver Nuggets are in true NBA Championship form, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have this game circled as a test to see how much their own team has improved. And as this is their 80th game, the Timberwolves know that it is now or never to tune up for the very competitive postseason.
The Denver Nuggets are the gold standard of the NBA for the 2023-24 NBA season. Any team with hopes of laying their own claim to the 2024 NBA Championship knows that they will need to go through the Denver Nuggets. And the Minnesota Timberwolves know that as well as anyone.
In the last few games of the season, there are opportunities to let the foot off the accelerator and coast into the postseason. And there is also the risk of aggregate injuries to waylay some NBA players, including those who play for the Timberwolves.
How important is this game for the Timberwolves? We’ll soon find out. But if the Wolves can win this one, that will serve as a huge springboard for their postseason campaign.