Are Minnesota Timberwolves on Pace for Best Season in Franchise History?

NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Surprising the world, the Minnesota Timberwolves have embarked on an impressive journey this season. With a remarkable record of 30-11, they stand at the top of the Western Conference, setting the stage for what could be a historic season and quite possibly the franchise’s best ever.

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The Timberwolves played their 41st game of the season on Thursday and with it came their 30th victory; making this season the second-fastest that this 35-year NBA franchise has ever reached that win total, behind only 2001-02.

As of Friday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves still sit atop the Western Conference, a seat they’ve occupied for almost the entirety of the season. Sportsbooks don’t see that changing during the 2nd half, either. The Wolves currently are +145 to be the West’s #1 seed, come playoff time. Behind them is the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets, at a somewhat distant +230.

#1 Seed in WestOdds
Minnesota Timberwolves +145
Denver Nuggets +230
Oklahoma City Thunder +300
Los Angeles Clippers +650
DraftKings

How Many Games Will the Minnesota Timberwolves Win?

As Minnesota sports fans, we never want to look too far ahead. That’s a dangerous game. But this is lining up to be a historic season. And with half schedule now complete, it’s worth diving into just how historic it could really be.

At a base level, projecting the Timberwolves 2023-24 win totals is easy. The season is half over, they have 30 wins. Multiply that by two – Boom – the Wolves are projected for 60 wins total, which would end up as the best regular season in franchise history.

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Win totals can be a bit trickier than that and teamrankings.com has 60 wins as the higher end of Minnesota’s possible win total spectrum. Their algorithm puts the Timberwolves most likely win/loss record at 58-24, which would tie the franchise record from 2003-04.

ScenarioWLPlayoffsWin DivNBA Champs
Miracle (90th %ile)6319YYN
Good Luck (70th %ile)6022YYN
Most Likely (50th %ile)5824YYN
Bad Luck (30th %ile)5725YNN
Melt Down (10th %ile)5428YNN
teamrankings.com

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Team Rankings’ projections are based on their remaining schedule and the odds, as of today, that they win each of their remaining matchups. In the 90th projectile scenario, where the Timberwolves play out of their minds during the entire 2nd half, the algorithm says Minnesota will lose just eight more games and finish 63-19 on the season.

Worst case scenario, if all shit hits the fan, the Wolves still finish with a 54-28 record, easily the 2nd best regular season record in franchise history and a year every single Minnesota Timberwolves fan would’ve eagerly signed for back in September.

Toughest/Easiest Remaining Games

DateToughestWin OddsDateEasiestWin Odds
1/29@ OKC38.7%1/22CHA93.3%
3/29@ DEN44.0%3/27DET93.1%
4/10@ DEN44.0%4/9WSH92.6%
2/12@ LAC44.1%3/4POR91.3%
3/12@ LAC44.1%2/27SA91.0%
2/8@ MIL48.9%1/24@ WSH84.2%
3/8@ CLE50.8%2/28MEM82.4%

If you’re a believer in Team Rankings’ projection system, it might be time to hop over the border or do whatever you have to to put some money down on the Wolves, whose win total over/under at at Sportsbettingdime.com is just 56.5.

The Best Season In Minnesota Timberwolves History?

When you ask many NBA fans to name one Timberwolves player, usually, Kevin Garnett is one that comes to mind to first, as he led the Timberwolves to the western conference finals in 2003-04 where Garnett was also later named MVP.

The Timberwolves have only finished first in the western conference once and it was that memorable ’03-’04 season that ended with a Western Conference Finals run. No other team in the organization’s 35-year history has finished better than 4th in the West. Here are the top 5 seasons in Wolves history.

RkYearRecordWin%SeedFinish
12023-2430-110.732TBDTBD
22003-0458-240.707#1WC Finals
32002-0351-310.622#41st Rnd
42001-0250-320.610#51st Rnd
51999-0050-320.610#61st Rnd

Ultimately, the focal point is winning games, and the Wolves have showcased an impressive ability to do so this season. Sustaining this level of performance gives them a legitimate shot at surpassing the top win total of the 03-04 Wolves.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Depth Chart and Injury Report – 2024

Even if they fall just short by a game or two, the prospect of winning a championship remains, serving as a significant accolade that would more than make up for it and solidify their place as the greatest Timberwolves team ever.

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