Timberwolves 2024-25 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds, Record Predictions

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven't exactly started a ton of seasons throughout franchise history with realistic championship expectations.

But that is absolutely the goal heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

Minnesota is coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance, has one of the brightest young stars in the game in Anthony Edwards and largely returns the same supporting cast that includes an impressive frontcourt of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.

Anything less than a deep playoff run would be a massive disappointment, even in the loaded Western Conference.

With that in mind, here is the schedule the Timberwolves will face with those elevated expectations in place.

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2024-25 Timberwolves Schedule Details

Season Opener: at Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 10 p.m. ET (on TNT)

Championship Odds: +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200), per FanDuel

Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com

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Top Matchups

Denver Nuggets

While the Boston Celtics ended last season as NBA champions, Minnesota's second-round victory over the Denver Nuggets was arguably the top playoff series.

Denver was the reigning champion and seemed well on its way to another NBA Finals appearance with Nikola Jokić leading the way when it bounced back from home losses in the first two games with three straight victories. Yet all the Timberwolves did was win Game 6 at home in blowout fashion and then overcome a 15-point halftime deficit to stun the Nuggets in Denver in Game 7.

They were unable to carry that momentum over during a Western Conference Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but it was something of an arrival moment for Edwards as a national star and set the stage for what figures to be a thrilling rivalry for years to come.

If Minnesota is going to accomplish that championship goal, it will likely have to go through Jokić and Co. while the Nuggets are playing with a chip on their shoulder following last season's loss.

These head-to-head games will also be critical in the race for the Western Conference's No. 1 seed as the Timberwolves, Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Mavericks and more battle for home-court advantage in the postseason.

NBA fans should circle every game between Minnesota and Denver, as they will be appointment viewing with plenty of recent history as the backdrop and playoff stakes hanging in the balance.

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Dallas Mavericks

If the games against the Nuggets will help the Timberwolves prove last season wasn't a fluke, the games against the Mavericks will help them prove they are capable of taking the next step and improving.

Dallas didn't care at all about Minnesota's momentum from the second round and eliminated Edwards and Co. in a short five games in the Western Conference Finals. Luka Dončić was completely unstoppable, while Kyrie Irving took over extended stretches as an overqualified No. 2 option.

It was a reality check for a Timberwolves team that had plenty of wind in their sails after eliminating the reigning champions.

This season's head-to-head matchups offer a chance at a revenge, important opportunities in the race for home-court advantage and the chance to make defensive adjustments against Dončić and Irving that could help in a playoff rematch.

Minnesota wants to avoid a situation where the Mavericks are a hurdle it cannot clear as it chases a championship, which puts additional pressure on these games even in the regular season.

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Season Forecast

There is little reason to doubt the Timberwolves this season.

Confidence should not be a factor after reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, and the continuity in place should only help them improve. Mike Conley offers a steady, veteran presence at point guard, Jaden McDaniels had his own coming out party in the playoffs, and the frontcourt trio of Towns, Gobert and Reid is difficult to top.

While there will always be question marks about Gobert's offense and Towns' ability to completely reach his potential as a star in the league, almost every other team would gladly take that frontcourt rotation.

And the biggest reason for confidence is Edwards.

He will be just 23 years old throughout the 2024-25 season, which means it is reasonable to expect improvement moving forward. That is a terrifying thought for the rest of the NBA, as he is coming off back-to-back All-Star campaigns that saw him elevate his game to among the league's best.

Edwards can soar over defenders to throw down a massive dunk, attack off the bounce, hit from three-point range and take over in the biggest moments. He also isn't afraid to let his opponent hear about it, which further endears him to Timberwolves fans.

It takes an unbelievable player to earn consistent Michael Jordan comparisons, and there is a chance Edwards will take his game to another level after last season's playoff success.

That will have a loaded Timberwolves squad competing for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and yet another deep postseason run.

Record Prediction: 57-25