Timberwolves looking to accomplish winning feat for first time in a year on Saturday

The Minnesota Timberwolves are ascending up the Western Conference standings. At 40-23, they are now in third place in the conference. With the standings as tight as they are, it wasn’t that long ago that they were in sixth. 

Having a string of winning basketball games can help a team move up when teams are close together. That is what Minnesota is currently doing. On Saturday, they will look to go on a season-high six-game winning streak when they take on the Orlando Magic at the Target Center.

Attempting to win a season-high six in a row

Minnesota’s 115-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday now has them on a current 5-game win streak. All five of the wins have come by single digits, although the Timberwolves held an 18-point lead with less than three minutes to go against Toronto.

That allows them the opportunity to reach six in a row, something they haven’t done this season. The afternoon matinee comes against a Magic team that will continue to be without Franz Wagner. The Wolves have won six of their last seven at home. The Magic have won their last two games, albeit against subpar teams (Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks). 

From November 29 until December 6, the Timberwolves also went on a five-game streak of wins. Much like the current 5-game streak, a lot of the wins were of the close variety. Only one came by double digits (San Antonio Spurs), and one came in overtime (New Orleans Pelicans). 

Their next game after those five wins came against the Phoenix Suns. It was another close affair, and one where Anthony Edwards dropped 40 points. In the end, though, Phoenix won by three after Jaden McDaniels couldn’t connect on a game-tying 3-pointer.

It has been almost a full year since Minnesota has won six straight. Last season, from March 2 to March 16, the Wolves reeled off eight consecutive wins. That was their only winning streak of more than five games. An overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers caused them to fall just shy of extending it to nine in a row.

If the Timberwolves are able to defeat the Magic, it won’t be easy to continue extending their winning streak. The next four outings after Orlando all come on the road against Western Conference teams, ending with the defending champions (Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder).