After Monday’s win over the Jazz, the Timberwolves have improved their record to 7-4. Minnesota has won five of its last six games. The vibes are certainly improved when compared to a week or 2 ago. Looking at their schedule, though, the Wolves are still missing a marquee win against a good team. They really only have one chance to change that over the next two weeks.
Upcoming schedule remains not so difficult other than game against Nuggets
Through their first 11 outings, the Timberwolves haven’t exactly experienced a daunting schedule. As a matter of fact, only 4 of them have come against clubs with winning records. Minnesota has lost all of those outings (twice to the Lakers, once apiece against the Nuggets and Knicks).
They did have a win against an above-.500 team, but the Trail Blazers dropped to 5-5 after losing to the Magic on Monday. The Timberwolves’ other wins have come against the 1-9 Pacers, 3-7 Hornets, 1-9 Nets, 3-7 Kings, and 3-7 Jazz (twice).
Not exactly victories against the NBA’s elite. Looking at Minnesota’s next six games, there’s really just one opportunity to change that. That comes this Saturday, the second of a back-to-back, against the rival Nuggets at the Target Center. Denver is seen as a true title contender and is off to a 7-2 start.
The next chance for the Timberwolves to beat a great team will come more than two weeks from now, on November 26, when they face the Thunder on the road.
Before they play OKC and other than the Denver game, they have two more games against the Kings, and games against the Mavericks, Wizards, and Suns. Phoenix is currently over .500 at 6-5, but has four games left to play before meeting up with the Wolves. The Trail Blazers can go back over .500 as well, but wins against either the Suns or Portland would not be considered victories over top competition, as Denver (or OKC) would be.
More success last two years against winning teams
The Timberwolves, of course, have reached the conference finals in the last two seasons. They had better than respectable records against teams over .500 in those years as well, particularly in 2023-24.
In 2024-25, the team went 19-21 against winning teams. The prior season, Minnesota owned an excellent 32-20 record against teams over .500.
While the season is still young, and perhaps the Timberwolves can help build momentum by defeating non-contenders, fans will feel better about their squad once they do pull out a win against a top-notch club.