Thus far, on the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have played four more games at the Target Center than on the road. That will change, as it will be 18 apiece at home and away after their four-game East Coast trip.
Sweeping it would give Minnesota a matching 12-6 record at home and on the road. They also won’t be facing any of the current top-six teams in the Eastern Conference during the trip, so the goal should be going 3-1 at minimum.
Road trip doesn't consist of any of the top Eastern Conference teams
The trip begins Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves will then go on the road to face three squads from the Southeast Division (Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Miami Heat on Saturday, and Washington Wizards on Sunday).
Of those teams, the one with the best record is the Heat at 17-15. Even so, since beginning the year at 14-7, they are 3-8 since (although winners of two straight).
The Hawks are 0-6 since Trae Young returned from injury. Remarkably, they have given up more than 125 points in all of those outings. Atlanta owns a winning record on the road but is just 5-11 at home.
Chicago right now is playing the best of the four teams that Minnesota will square up with. They are a game under .500 and slumped majorly after a 5-0 start. The Bulls rebounded, though, to win five in a row before losing their most recent outing against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Wizards have the second-worst record in the NBA at 7-23 (have won two straight, though). Their 4-10 record at home is only better than the Brooklyn Nets' mark of 4-11.
Crucial to rebound after disappointing loss to Nets
The Wolves lost to one of the bottom feeders in the Eastern Conference, the Nets, on Saturday. It was arguably their worst loss of the season (the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns meltdowns are candidates as well), and an excellent road trip could leave that loss much further in the rear-view mirror. While it's just one awful loss, the Wolves must prove that playing down to their competition won't be a regular issue.
It was just the Timberwolves' second loss to an Eastern Conference team this season. The first came against the New York Knicks, a defeat they later avenged by beating them on December 23. Minnesota is 7-2 against squads from the East.
Stacking up road wins regardless of the opponent can be a confidence-booster. Here is a golden opportunity for the Timberwolves to do so, beginning on Monday night. Conversely, if the Wolves drop some of these games, it could hurt their place in the standings and all but guarantee a roster shake-up at the trade deadline.