The 5 Most important games on the Timberwolves' schedule

A new era has begun in Minneapolis. Following numerous seasons of repeated heartbreak, the Minnesota Timberwolves are finally amongst the NBA's elite. After 20-plus years of sub-50-win seasons, Minnesota won 56 games and reached the Western Conference Finals a season ago.

In the wake of the Wolves' best season in two decades, the NBA has ensured all eyes will be on the Anthony Edwards-led squad next season. The Timberwolves will play 18 nationally televised games this upcoming season. From opening night to Christmas Day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Wolves will consistently be shown in households throughout America.

While being nationally televised is a massive accomplishment, it's up to the Timberwolves to prove their worthiness of the spotlight. Minnesota's schedule won't be easy, battling Western Conference foes and competing in one of the best divisions in basketball. However, the Wolves have built a perennial title contender and there's nowhere else to go but up.

Upon the release of the schedule, we've analyzed five of the most important games for the Timberwolves. Some of these affairs either come at a crucial juncture, are played against a talented opponent, or even both.

5. October 22 at Los Angeles Lakers

Although not the most meaningful game, being played on opening night, Minnesota gets its first crack at playing under the national spotlight against one of the most renowned franchises in the NBA — the Los Angeles Lakers. Immediately after the reigning NBA Champions conclude their bout with the New York Knicks, the Wolves will battle the Lakers later that night.

This will be Minnesota's first opportunity to showcase sustained success. The franchise hasn't had back-to-back 50-win seasons since the early 2000s. And since 2010, the Wolves have only seen back-to-back 40-win seasons twice. This affair has the makings to set the tone for the remainder of the season, especially from a viewer's perspective.

4. December 25 at Dallas Mavericks

A Christmas Day rematch of the Western Conference Semifinals is exactly what the doctor ordered. It's cliche to say the NBA season truly begins around Christmas time, but in this instance, there's not a better day to remind fans how complete of a team the Wolves have put together.

This will also be Minnesota's second chance to battle the Mavericks following an initial clash on October 29. Even though that game will be aired on TNT, this matchup is sure to draw millions of viewers with its 2:30 p.m. ET start time. In addition to the enormity of the contest, there's also a good chance the Wolves and Mavs will be atop the Western Conference standings when they meet again.

3. March 28 vs. Phoenix Suns

The Timberwolves-Suns rivalry seemed one-sided until it wasn't a season ago. Phoenix handily defeated Minnesota three times in the regular season before the Wolves received the unfortunate draw of squaring off against the Suns in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

However, the playoffs told a different story. The Timberwolves walloped the Suns — sweeping the series with an average margin of victory of 15 points. This time around, Phoenix is a more complete squad. The Suns made two, under-the-radar additions to bolster the top-heavy roster. Phoenix added potential starting point guard, Tyus Jones, and reserve big man Mason Plumlee to a 49-win team.

This contest comes at a crucial time in the season. Will Minnesota face the same misfortunes in the regular season as they did last year when facing Phoenix? Or, have the Wolves turned a corner, and figured out how to best the Suns in this burgeoning rivalry?

2. February 24 at Oklahoma City

Conference rival? Check. Away game? Check. Second night of a back-to-back? Check. Second night of a back-to-back against the same team? Check. This late-February bout against the Oklahoma City Thunder has all the right ingredients to be one of the most important games of the season.

The Timberwolves will take on the Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back—the only such instance this season for Minnesota. Following a late, 8:30 p.m. CT start on the 23rd, Minnesota will essentially follow the Thunder's plane back to Oklahoma later that night.

Besides the logistics and the juncture, this contest will certainly have playoff-seeding implications this late into the season. Both the Thunder and the Wolves won 56-plus games a season ago. However, while Minnesota made several low-key additions to the roster, Oklahoma City added Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso to bolster the opening unit. The Timberwolves are in for a massive test against an improved Thunder squad.

1. April 1 at Denver Nuggets

For the second season in a row, the Timberwolves will battle the Denver Nuggets in a late-season matchup to likely determine the Western Conference pecking order. A season ago, the Wolves took on the Nuggets on March 29 and April 10—splitting the contests.

Next season, Minnesota will battle Denver on March 10 and April 1. This April Fools Day clash is the more important of the two even though both games will be aired on national television. Last year, Minnesota moved to first place in the conference after defeating Denver in late March. However, a loss to Denver on the 10th halted Minnesota's hopes of earning home-court advantage in the playoffs.

This intra-division match-up has the potential to offer the same fate as it did a year ago. In addition to the ramifications of the contest, both teams will look nearly the same as they did last season. The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, but besides that departure, they'll look nearly identical—and the same goes for Minnesota. This rivalry is now full-fledged, and with both teams vying for the top spot in the conference, there will be no shortage of fireworks.