The 1998-99 Minnesota Timberwolves season was marked by a strong performance in the lockout-shortened NBA campaign. The team, led by emerging star Kevin Garnett, finished with a 25-25 record, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Despite the challenges of a condensed schedule, Garnett averaged 20.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in the league.
In the playoffs, the Timberwolves faced a formidable opponent in the San Antonio Spurs. The series showcased the team’s potential, but Minnesota was ultimately eliminated in the first round by the eventual NBA champions, losing 3-1. The season highlighted the Timberwolves’ growth and competitiveness, setting a foundation for future success. The campaign also underscored the importance of Garnett’s leadership, as he continued to evolve into one of the NBA’s elite players.
- Regular Season Record: 25-25
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats for 1998-99 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Kevin Garnett | 47 | 20.8 | 10.4 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 28.6 | 4 | 21.8 | 12.0 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Stephon Marbury | 18 | 17.7 | 3.4 | 9.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 20.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terrell Brandon | 21 | 14.2 | 3.9 | 9.8 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 26.3 | 4 | 19.3 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 60.0 |
| Joe Smith | 43 | 13.7 | 8.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Mitchell | 50 | 11.2 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 23.7 | 4 | 10.0 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 16.7 |
| Anthony Peeler | 28 | 9.6 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 29.8 | 4 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 38.5 |
| Dennis Scott | 21 | 9.1 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 42.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Malik Sealy | 31 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 26.1 | 4 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Jackson | 50 | 7.1 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 37.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dean Garrett | 49 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| James Robinson | 17 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 29.5 | 4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Tom Hammonds | 49 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rasho Nesterović | 2 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Andrae Patterson | 35 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Curley | 35 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Carr | 11 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Jordan | 27 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brian Evans | 5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Grant | 4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Trevor Winter | 1 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite a strong performance from Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves struggled against the eventual champions, losing the series 3-1. This marked another early exit for Minnesota, highlighting the team's ongoing challenges in advancing past the opening playoff rounds during that era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-86 | |
| May 11, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 80-71 | |
| May 13, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 85-71 | |
| May 15, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-85 |
Minnesota Timberwolves 1998-99 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1998-99 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 05, 1999 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 110-92 | |
| Feb 06, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 96-82 | |
| Feb 09, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 74-70 | |
| Feb 11, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 86-75 | |
| Feb 14, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 95-73 | |
| Feb 15, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 101-99 | |
| Feb 17, 1999 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-102 | |
| Feb 19, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 115-96 | |
| Feb 21, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-90 | |
| Feb 22, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 95-89 | |
| Feb 25, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | L 115-113 | |
| Feb 26, 1999 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 102-92 | |
| Feb 28, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-93 | |
| Mar 02, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 89-78 | |
| Mar 04, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-93 | |
| Mar 05, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1999 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 88-77 | |
| Mar 09, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 85-84 | |
| Mar 11, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 89-82 | |
| Mar 12, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 101-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1999 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-72 | |
| Mar 15, 1999 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 90-83 | |
| Mar 16, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | L 86-81 | |
| Mar 19, 1999 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 105-101 | |
| Mar 21, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 100-85 | |
| Mar 24, 1999 | @ Boston Celtics | W 87-68 | |
| Mar 26, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | W 100-93 | |
| Mar 28, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-85 | |
| Mar 30, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 98-78 | |
| Apr 02, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 107-88 | |
| Apr 03, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-96 | |
| Apr 05, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-93 | |
| Apr 07, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 90-82 | |
| Apr 08, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 99-91 | |
| Apr 09, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-89 | |
| Apr 11, 1999 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 88-79 | |
| Apr 12, 1999 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 95-90 | |
| Apr 14, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 95-79 | |
| Apr 15, 1999 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 101-95 | |
| Apr 16, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 89-75 | |
| Apr 18, 1999 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 97-76 | |
| Apr 21, 1999 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-105 | |
| Apr 23, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-97 | |
| Apr 25, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-84 | |
| Apr 28, 1999 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 97-92 | |
| Apr 30, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 90-85 | |
| May 01, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-93 | |
| May 04, 1999 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-83 | |
| May 05, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-96 |