NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2017–18 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 29th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
They clinched their first winning season since 2004 with a win over the New York Knicks on March 23, 2018. On April 11, 2018, the Timberwolves clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2004 with a win over the Denver Nuggets , ending what was the longest post-season drought in the NBA at the time, at 13 seasons to pass the Sacramento Kings to currently make the longest postseason NBA drought. The last time the Wolves made the playoffs was during the Kevin Garnett era where he led them to the conference finals that year. The Wolves this season also signed free agent Derrick Rose , after he considered joining teams such as the Golden State Warriors , San Antonio Spurs , and Washington Wizards . The signing reunited Rose with former Chicago Bulls teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson , as well as coach Tom Thibodeau , all of whom were part of the franchise from 2011 to 2015. These acquisitions would earn the team the nickname “TimberBulls” from the media and fans.
They finished the regular season with a 47–35 record, which clinched the 8th seed. In the playoffs, the Timberwolves faced the top-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round, and lost in five games.
Until 2022 , this was the last season that the Timberwolves made the playoffs or had a winning season.
Entering the draft, the Timberwolves only held one first round pick at #7; their second round pick was forced to be traded away to the Boston Celtics due to a previous trade involving the Phoenix Suns (and former New Orleans Hornets ) allowing the Suns (later Celtics) to acquire their 2017 second round pick if their lottery protected pick wasn't acquired by 2016. Exiting draft night, however, they traded away their #7 pick, which was the Finnish center/power forward Lauri Markkanen from University of Arizona , alongside last year's top selection (Kris Dunn ) and Zach LaVine to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for All-Star shooting guard/small forward Jimmy Butler and the Bulls' own first round selection, which was #16 pick Justin Patton , a redshirt freshman center from Creighton University for the purpose of ending their 13 year long playoff drought.
2017–18 Minnesota Timberwolves roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 45 Aldrich, Cole 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 1988–10–31 Kansas F 8 Bjelica, Nemanja 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1988–05–09 Serbia G 30 Brooks, Aaron 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1985–01–14 Oregon F 3 Brown, Anthony (TW) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1992–10–10 Stanford G 23 Butler, Jimmy (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1989–09–14 Marquette G 11 Crawford, Jamal 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1980–03–20 Michigan C 5 Dieng, Gorgui 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1990–01–18 Louisville G 13 Georges-Hunt, Marcus 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1994–03–28 Georgia Tech F 67 Gibson, Taj 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1985–06–24 USC F 10 Jefferson, Amile 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1993–05–07 Duke G 1 Jones, Tyus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1996–05–10 Duke C 24 Patton, Justin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 251 lb (114 kg) 1997–06–14 Creighton G 25 Rose, Derrick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1988–10–04 Memphis G 0 Teague, Jeff 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1988–06–10 Wake Forest C 32 Towns, Karl-Anthony (C) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1995–11–15 Kentucky F 22 Wiggins, Andrew (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1995–02–23 Kansas
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League affiliate(TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Last transaction: 2018–04–11
Standings [ edit ] Division [ edit ] Conference [ edit ] Game log [ edit ] Preseason [ edit ] 2017 pre-season game log Total: 2–1 (home: 1–1; road: 1–0) Pre-season: 2–1 (home: 1–1; road: 1–0)
2017–18 season schedule
Regular season [ edit ] 2017–18 game log Total: 47–35 (home: 30–11; road: 17–24) October: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
November : 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 8 November 1 @ New Orleans W 104–98 Jimmy Butler (23) Taj Gibson (12) Jeff Teague (9) Smoothie King Center 14,788 5–3 9 November 4 Dallas W 112–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 16,837 6–3 10 November 5 Charlotte W 112–94 Andrew Wiggins (20) Gorgui Dieng (11) Jeff Teague (12) Target Center 14,124 7–3 11 November 8 @ Golden State L 101–125 Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Butler , Jeff Teague (5) Oracle Arena 19,596 7–4 12 November 11 @ Phoenix L 110–118 Andrew Wiggins (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Butler , Jeff Teague (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena 16,910 7–5 13 November 13 @ Utah W 109–98 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jimmy Butler (10) Vivint Smart Home Arena 17,236 8–5 14 November 15 San Antonio W 98–86 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jeff Teague (6) Target Center 18,978 9–5 15 November 17 @ Dallas W 111–87 Jimmy Butler (21) Gibson , Towns (11) Jeff Teague (10) American Airlines Center 19,459 10–5 16 November 19 Detroit L 97–100 Jimmy Butler (26) Jimmy Butler (9) Jeff Teague (9) Target Center 16,069 10–6 17 November 20 @ Charlotte L 102–118 Jamal Crawford (19) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Tyus Jones (3) Spectrum Center 15,978 10–7 18 November 22 Orlando W 124–118 Jimmy Butler (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (11) Target Center 16,402 11–7 19 November 24 Miami L 97–109 Butler , Towns , Wiggins (18) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Tyus Jones (6) Target Center 18,978 11–8 20 November 26 Phoenix W 119–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Taj Gibson (14) Tyus Jones (7) Target Center 16,448 12–8 21 November 28 Washington L 89–92 Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jimmy Butler (10) Target Center 13,442 12–9 22 November 29 @ New Orleans W 120–102 Andrew Wiggins (28) Gibson , Towns (10) Tyus Jones (6) Smoothie King Center 15,555 13–9
December : 10–5 (home: 5–2; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 23 December 1 @ Oklahoma City L 107–111 Towns , Wiggins (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Jeff Teague (10) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 13–10 24 December 3 LA Clippers W 112–106 Jimmy Butler (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 13,172 14–10 25 December 4 @ Memphis L 92–95 Jimmy Butler (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jimmy Butler (5) FedExForum 14,012 14–11 26 December 6 @ LA Clippers W 113–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Taj Gibson (14) Jimmy Butler (8) Staples Center 15,951 15–11 27 December 10 Dallas W 97–92 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Butler , Jeff Teague (5) Target Center 13,094 16–11 28 December 12 Philadelphia L 112–118 (OT) Jimmy Butler (38) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jamal Crawford (5) Target Center 14,659 16–12 29 December 14 Sacramento W 119–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jimmy Butler (9) Target Center 11,126 17–12 30 December 16 Phoenix L 106–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 18,109 17–13 31 December 18 Portland W 108–107 Jimmy Butler (37) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Jeff Teague (5) Target Center 14,187 18–13 32 December 20 @ Denver W 112–104 Butler , Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (8) Pepsi Center 17,002 19–13 33 December 23 @ Phoenix W 115–106 Jimmy Butler (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jeff Teague (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena 16,482 20–13 34 December 25 @ LA Lakers W 121–104 Butler , Gibson (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (10) Staples Center 18,997 21–13 35 December 27 Denver W 128–125 (OT) Jimmy Butler (39) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 18,978 22–13 36 December 28 @ Milwaukee L 96–102 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Gorgui Dieng (8) Jimmy Butler (7) Bradley Center 18,717 22–14 37 December 31 @ Indiana W 107–90 Jimmy Butler (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jeff Teague (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,923 23–14
January : 9–8 (home: 8–0; road: 1–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 38 January 1 LA Lakers W 114–96 Jimmy Butler (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (9) Target Center 18,978 24–14 39 January 3 @ Brooklyn L 97–98 Jimmy Butler (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jimmy Butler (4) Barclays Center 16,215 24–15 40 January 5 @ Boston L 84–91 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Jimmy Butler (6) TD Garden 18,624 24–16 41 January 6 New Orleans W 116–98 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jimmy Butler (8) Target Center 18,978 25–16 42 January 8 Cleveland W 127–99 Andrew Wiggins (25) Taj Gibson (13) Jimmy Butler (9) Target Center 18,978 26–16 43 January 10 Oklahoma City W 104–88 Jimmy Butler (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jimmy Butler (8) Target Center 18,978 27–16 44 January 12 NY Knicks W 118–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Target Center 18,978 28–16 45 January 14 Portland W 120–103 Jimmy Butler (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 14,739 29–16 46 January 16 @ Orlando L 102–108 Jimmy Butler (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (6) Amway Center 18,589 29–17 47 January 18 @ Houston L 98–116 Jimmy Butler (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jamal Crawford (5) Toyota Center 18,055 29–18 48 January 20 Toronto W 115–109 Andrew Wiggins (29) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 17,828 30–18 49 January 22 @ LA Clippers W 126–118 Andrew Wiggins (40) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jeff Teague (6) Staples Center 16,347 31–18 50 January 24 @ Portland L 114–123 Andrew Wiggins (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Crawford , Jones (5) Moda Center 18,920 31–19 51 January 25 @ Golden State L 113–126 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Crawford , Towns (5) Oracle Arena 19,596 31–20 52 January 27 Brooklyn W 111–97 Butler , Wiggins (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (19) Butler , Jones (5) Target Center 16,231 32–20 53 January 29 @ Atlanta L 100–105 Jimmy Butler (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (10) Philips Arena 12,589 32–21 54 January 30 @ Toronto L 104–109 Jimmy Butler (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jimmy Butler (6) Air Canada Centre 19,800 32–22
February : 6–4 (home: 5–1; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 February 1 Milwaukee W 108–89 Jimmy Butler (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 17,199 33–22 56 February 3 New Orleans W 118–107 Jimmy Butler (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jimmy Butler (7) Target Center 17,954 34–22 57 February 7 @ Cleveland L 138–140 (OT) Jimmy Butler (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (15) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 34–23 58 February 9 @ Chicago L 113–114 Jimmy Butler (38) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Butler , Teague (5) United Center 21,558 34–24 59 February 11 Sacramento W 111–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (29) Towns , Wiggins (8) Jeff Teague (9) Target Center 18,068 35–24 60 February 13 Houston L 108–126 Karl-Anthony Towns (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 18,978 35–25 61 February 15 LA Lakers W 119–111 Taj Gibson (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (19) Jeff Teague (6) Target Center 17,534 36–25 All-Star Break 62 February 23 @ Houston L 102–120 Andrew Wiggins (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (4) Toyota Center 18,055 36–26 63 February 24 Chicago W 122–104 Jeff Teague (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (7) Target Center 18,978 37–26 64 February 26 @ Sacramento W 118–100 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jeff Teague (7) Golden 1 Center 17,583 38–26
March : 6–7 (home: 3–3; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 65 March 1 @ Portland L 99–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (34) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jeff Teague (5) Moda Center 19,533 38–27 66 March 2 @ Utah L 108–116 Andrew Wiggins (27) Bjelica , Gibson , Teague , Towns (4) Jamal Crawford (4) Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306 38–28 67 March 8 Boston L 109–117 Nemanja Bjelica (30) Nemanja Bjelica (12) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 18,978 38–29 68 March 11 Golden State W 109–103 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 18,978 39–29 69 March 13 @ Washington W 116–111 Karl-Anthony Towns (37) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Nemanja Bjelica (7) Capital One Arena 17,078 40–29 70 March 17 @ San Antonio L 101–117 Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Jeff Teague (8) AT&T Center 18,418 40–30 71 March 18 Houston L 120–129 Jeff Teague (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Jeff Teague (11) Target Center 18,978 40–31 72 March 20 LA Clippers W 123–109 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (12) Target Center 16,351 41–31 73 March 23 @ NY Knicks W 108–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (8) Madison Square Garden 18,914 42–31 74 March 24 @ Philadelphia L 108–120 Andrew Wiggins (16) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Tyus Jones (6) Wells Fargo Center 20,668 42–32 75 March 26 Memphis L 93–101 Jeff Teague (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (7) Target Center 16,290 42–33 76 March 28 Atlanta W 126–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (56) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 16,183 43–33 77 March 30 @ Dallas W 93–92 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Tyus Jones (4) American Airlines Center 20,244 44–33
April : 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
2017–18 season schedule
Playoffs [ edit ] 2018 playoff game log Total: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3) First Round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
2018 playoff schedule
Transactions [ edit ] Free agents [ edit ] Re-signed [ edit ] Additions [ edit ] Subtractions [ edit ] References [ edit ] ^ "Timberwolves acquire three-time NBA All-Star and 2016/17 All-NBA third team selection Jimmy Butler" . NBA.com/timberwolves . June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves acquire 2018 first-round draft pick from Utah in exchange for guard Ricky Rubio" . NBA.com/timberwolves . June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign Shabazz Muhammad" . NBA.com/timberwolves . September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign forward Andrew Wiggins to multi-year contract extension" . NBA.com/timberwolves . October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign All-Star guard Jeff Teague" . NBA.com/timberwolves . July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign forward Taj Gibson" . NBA.com/timberwolves . July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign guard Jamal Crawford" . NBA.com/timberwolves . July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign Anthony Brown tO two-way Contract" . NBA.com/timberwolves . August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign Marcus Georges-Hunt" . NBA.com/timberwolves . August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves sign Aaron Brooks" . NBA.com/timberwolves . September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves waive center Nikola Pekovic" . NBA.com/timberwolves . June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017 . ^ "Timberwolves waive forward/center Jordan Hill" . NBA.com/timberwolves . June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017 . ^ "Warriors sign free agent Forward Omri Casspi" . NBA.com/warriors . July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017 . ^ "Magic sign Adreian Payne to Two-way contract" . NBA.com/magic . August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017 .