While we may be in a dead spot in the NBA season calendar at the moment, it allows for more creative and abstract ideas to be explored as you stumble around for fun content on your favorite team.
One of the most recent NBA news cycle drops that impacted the entire league was the schedule announcement.
While LeBron James may have delayed that process while he chose his next team, there are plenty of intriguing games on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ schedule that are on our radar for potential games of the year.
Drafts of all sorts are taking place right now with the beginning of fantasy football, so why not draft the top five games on the Timberwolves schedule? While it may be hard to pick five when there are 82 options, these are a few that should be marked on your calendar if you want to catch some high-caliber hoops.
No. 5: New Year’s Date with a Familiar Foe
Dec. 31 vs. Denver Nuggets, 3 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime
Coming in at No. 5 on the list is a New Year’s Eve Day game against the Denver Nuggets.
While there are other Nuggets-related candidates on this list that could have made the cut, the combination of the continued bitter rivalry where Minnesota took apart Denver last season whilst being incredibly injured combined with some weird memories on New Year’s games put this one just above the rest.
Following up a couple of embarrassing losses as the calendar has flipped over the last few years, Minnesota could look to right the ship in this year’s matchup — and who better to do it against than the team they have had some epic clashes with over the past few years? The combination of both of these things, positive and negative, is exactly why it should be circled on the calendar before partaking in any New Year festivities.
No. 4: Late Season LA Trip
April 7 and April 9 at LA Lakers, 7 p.m. CT on ESPN and local broadcasts
Ok, maybe we cheated our own draft and picked six games. While the players are probably a bit bummed to see one of their LA trips come in April when the weather is starting to turn here in the Twin Cities, these two games should be fascinating and ones that could have large implications on the playoff picture.
While it is always a risk to pick late-season games such as this one, it is easy to visualize how important these two games could be as the march toward the postseason reaches its regular season end. The Wolves will play the Lakers on April 7 and April 9 this season in their third-to-last and second-to-last games, which could have massive seeding implications.
If the season shakes out how it is reasonably predicted to, these two games could have massive stakes to what side of the bracket these teams could be on and who their first round opponent could be. Don’t be surprised if this is a talking point, especially as the season nears its close.
No. 3: A Hero’s Return
Jan. 29 vs. Charlotte Hornets, 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
This game will be one of the most emotional games of the season for multiple reasons.
While many fans are understandably excited about trade with the Charlotte Hornets that brought in LaMelo Ball, you’d be remised if you were not at least a little bit sad about the departure of Naz Reid. Reid was the ultimate underdog success story as the undrafted player who worked on his game every year to become the folk hero he is in Minnesota.
The game in Charlotte this season will also be very interesting to watch with Ball’s return, but Reid was the heart and soul of the Wolves for years and was the longest tenured player before being dealt this offseason. The tribute video will be epic, and his name will be yelled like a battle cry for all of Target Center to hear.
No. 2: A Legend’s Return
Feb. 28 vs. Boston Celtics, 6 p.m. CT on NBC
Another huge homecoming is planned to take place just a few weeks after Naz Reid’s return to Target Center. You guessed it, Luka Garza! Of course, we’re kidding.
Kevin Garnett will return to Target Center to have his jersey rightfully hoisted into the rafters after a wait that was much too long. This has been a top-line item on owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez’s list, and after long last, the Big Ticket will be recognized by the organization and within the arena that he helped build.
There has been something missing in the Target Center air for years now, one that only KG would be able to fill. Finally, on Feb. 28, that wrong will be righted and he will be celebrated by new and old fans alike.
No. 1: Holiday Cheer at Target Center
Dec. 25 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m. CT on ABC
The Wolves have had the opportunity to grace national television on Christmas Day for each of the last two years — the Anthony Edwards effect.
While it is always fun to be home for the holidays and watch some Wolves hoops with your family — or have it be a distraction from the in-laws — it carries some extra weight this year with it being the first time in franchise history that Minnesota will host a Christmas Day game at home.
Combine that with the primetime post-dinner slot of 7 p.m. local time and against a bitter rival in the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it should be a present to Wolves fans and basketball fans everywhere. The prestige, the rivalry and the holiday all combine to be an extremely fun night, and this game takes the top spot in this draft.
Honorable Mention
A few other games just missed the cut, landing them on our honorable mentions:
- Oct. 31 at San Antonio — Alien on Halloween? Come on!
- March 13 vs. Philadelphia — LeBron visiting the place he spurred in free agency. Well, kind of…
- Nov. 23 vs. Brooklyn — Too negative to be on the list.
- Nov. 19 vs. New York — KAT’s return to Minnesota always has to be close to the list.
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