The Minnesota Timberwolves are rewriting their own story this season - and it’s happening in real time.
Early on, the narrative was simple: great against the teams they should beat, but unable to get it done against the league’s best. Through their first seven games against teams with winning records, Minnesota went 0-7. That’s not just a red flag - that’s a full siren for a team with postseason aspirations.
But here’s the thing about the NBA’s 82-game marathon: it gives teams room to grow, adjust, and flip the script. And that’s exactly what the Timberwolves have done.
Since that rocky 0-7 start against teams over .500, Minnesota has gone 12-6 in those matchups. That’s a significant turnaround, and it’s come against some of the league’s toughest competition.
We’re talking wins over the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks, Miami Heat (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors. They’ve also beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs - currently the top two teams in the Western Conference - twice each.
So while the overall record against teams above .500 sits at 12-13, that number doesn’t tell the full story. It masks the fact that this team has evolved, found its footing, and started showing up in the games that matter most.
Now, let’s put that in context. Four of the five teams ahead of Minnesota in the standings have winning records against winning teams.
That’s usually a strong indicator of playoff readiness. The Nuggets are just barely over the line at 13-12, and the Lakers are actually behind at 11-13.
So Minnesota’s current mark - though still slightly under .500 - puts them right in the thick of the conversation.
Interestingly, as the Wolves have started to take down the league’s heavyweights, they’ve had a few stumbles against teams they were expected to beat. Losses to the Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Jazz have raised eyebrows, but overall, they’re still an impressive 22-9 against teams under .500. That’s the kind of consistency that keeps you in the playoff hunt even when a few games slip away.
The big takeaway? Minnesota’s early-season struggles against top-tier opponents weren’t a death sentence - they were a challenge.
And the Timberwolves have responded. They’ve grown into a team that can not only hang with the contenders but beat them outright.
Their next test comes Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center - a chance to add another quality win to the résumé. With the Wolves currently sitting sixth in the West but just 1.5 games out of third, every one of these matchups matters. The standings are tight, and seeding could come down to just a game or two.
If Minnesota keeps trending in this direction, that early-season narrative will feel like a distant memory. This is a team that’s learning how to win when it counts - and that’s the kind of growth that turns regular-season success into something more meaningful come playoff time.