Timberwolves have a chance to end an almost-20-year streak
By Will Eudy
Opening night is finally here for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a long offseason and many successful moves made by the front office, the Wolves will be traveling to Toronto to begin the 2023-24 season against the Raptors.
The Wolves have a tall task ahead of them in competing for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They may have a very talented roster, but the West boasts a multitude of deep rosters from top to bottom. Luckily, the Raptors should be a bit of an easier matchup to start things out.
But Anthony Edwards and company will not be taking their feet off the gas. The Timberwolves have had a rough go at trying to win in Toronto for some time now. In fact, they have not won a game in the city since 2004, when the team’s starting lineup featured Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell.
The Timberwolves have not won in Toronto since 2004
Minnesota has ultimately lost an unbelievable 18 straight contests inside the confines of Air Canada Centre/Scotiabank Arena in Toronto between 2005 and 2023. Some may wonder how this is possible when the Wolves did, in fact, beat the Raptors on the road during the 2020-21 season.
You may recall that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Raptors played their home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida during that season. As such, the Timberwolves’ win counts as a ‘road win’ but the game was technically not played in Toronto.
This certainly feels like Minnesota’s best chance at ending this near-two decade losing streak. Even with Jaden McDaniels out of the lineup, the Wolves are well-equipped to take down an inferior opponent and start their season out the right way.