The 2017-18 Minnesota Timberwolves season marked a significant improvement for the franchise, ending a 14-year playoff drought. Under head coach Tom Thibodeau, the team finished with a 47-35 record, securing the 8th seed in the Western Conference. Key to their success was the acquisition of All-Star Jimmy Butler, who joined forces with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins to form a formidable core.
The Timberwolves showed resilience throughout the season, achieving several notable victories that highlighted their potential. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they faced the top-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round. Minnesota managed to win one game but ultimately fell 4-1 in the series. Despite the early exit, the season was viewed as a step forward, laying the groundwork for future competitiveness in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats for 2017-18 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jimmy Butler | 59 | 22.2 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 35.0 | 5 | 15.8 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 47.1 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 82 | 21.3 | 12.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 42.1 | 5 | 15.2 | 13.4 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 27.3 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 82 | 17.7 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 33.1 | 5 | 15.8 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 33.3 |
| Jeff Teague | 70 | 14.2 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 36.8 | 5 | 13.0 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 38.9 |
| Taj Gibson | 82 | 12.2 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 20.0 | 5 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Jamal Crawford | 80 | 10.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 33.1 | 5 | 11.8 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 41.2 |
| Nemanja Bjelica | 67 | 6.8 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 41.5 | 5 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 57.1 |
| Gorgui Dieng | 79 | 5.9 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 31.1 | 5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 40.0 |
| Derrick Rose | 9 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 5 | 14.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 70.0 |
| Tyus Jones | 82 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 34.9 | 4 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shabazz Muhammad | 32 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 21.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Brown | 1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aaron Brooks | 32 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 35.5 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Justin Patton | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marcus Georges-Hunt | 42 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 26.7 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cole Aldrich | 21 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced the Houston Rockets in the first round, marking their first playoff appearance since 2004. Despite the strong performances by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, the Timberwolves were outmatched by the Rockets' high-powered offense, led by MVP James Harden, and lost the series in five games. This playoff run, although brief, signaled a step forward for the franchise, ending a 14-year postseason drought.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2018 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 18, 2018 | @ Houston Rockets | L 102-82 | |
| Apr 21, 2018 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-105 | |
| Apr 23, 2018 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 119-100 | |
| Apr 25, 2018 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-104 |
Minnesota Timberwolves 2017-18 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2017-18 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2017 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-99 | |
| Oct 20, 2017 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-97 | |
| Oct 22, 2017 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 115-113 | |
| Oct 24, 2017 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 130-107 | |
| Oct 25, 2017 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-101 | |
| Oct 27, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 119-116 | |
| Oct 30, 2017 | @ Miami Heat | W 125-122 | |
| Nov 01, 2017 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 104-98 | |
| Nov 04, 2017 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-99 | |
| Nov 05, 2017 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 112-94 | |
| Nov 08, 2017 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 125-101 | |
| Nov 11, 2017 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-110 | |
| Nov 13, 2017 | @ Utah Jazz | W 109-98 | |
| Nov 15, 2017 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 98-86 | |
| Nov 17, 2017 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 111-87 | |
| Nov 19, 2017 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 100-97 | |
| Nov 20, 2017 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 118-102 | |
| Nov 22, 2017 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 124-118 | |
| Nov 24, 2017 | vs. Miami Heat | L 109-97 | |
| Nov 26, 2017 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 119-108 | |
| Nov 28, 2017 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 92-89 | |
| Nov 29, 2017 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 120-102 | |
| Dec 01, 2017 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 111-107 | |
| Dec 03, 2017 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-106 | |
| Dec 04, 2017 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 95-92 | |
| Dec 06, 2017 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 10, 2017 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 97-92 | |
| Dec 12, 2017 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-112 | |
| Dec 14, 2017 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-96 | |
| Dec 16, 2017 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 108-106 | |
| Dec 18, 2017 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-107 | |
| Dec 20, 2017 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 112-104 | |
| Dec 23, 2017 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 115-106 | |
| Dec 25, 2017 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-104 | |
| Dec 27, 2017 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 128-125 | |
| Dec 28, 2017 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-96 | |
| Dec 31, 2017 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 107-90 | |
| Jan 01, 2018 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-96 | |
| Jan 03, 2018 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 98-97 | |
| Jan 05, 2018 | @ Boston Celtics | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 06, 2018 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 116-98 | |
| Jan 08, 2018 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 127-99 | |
| Jan 10, 2018 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 104-88 | |
| Jan 12, 2018 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 14, 2018 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-103 | |
| Jan 16, 2018 | @ Orlando Magic | L 108-102 | |
| Jan 18, 2018 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-98 | |
| Jan 20, 2018 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 115-109 | |
| Jan 22, 2018 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 126-118 | |
| Jan 24, 2018 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-114 | |
| Jan 25, 2018 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 126-113 | |
| Jan 27, 2018 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 111-97 | |
| Jan 29, 2018 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-100 | |
| Jan 30, 2018 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 109-104 | |
| Feb 01, 2018 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-89 | |
| Feb 03, 2018 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 118-107 | |
| Feb 07, 2018 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 140-138 | |
| Feb 09, 2018 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 114-113 | |
| Feb 11, 2018 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-106 | |
| Feb 13, 2018 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 126-108 | |
| Feb 15, 2018 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 119-111 | |
| Feb 23, 2018 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-102 | |
| Feb 24, 2018 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-104 | |
| Feb 26, 2018 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 118-100 | |
| Mar 01, 2018 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-99 | |
| Mar 02, 2018 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-108 | |
| Mar 08, 2018 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 117-109 | |
| Mar 11, 2018 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 109-103 | |
| Mar 13, 2018 | @ Washington Wizards | W 116-111 | |
| Mar 17, 2018 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-101 | |
| Mar 18, 2018 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 129-120 | |
| Mar 20, 2018 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-109 | |
| Mar 23, 2018 | @ New York Knicks | W 108-104 | |
| Mar 24, 2018 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-108 | |
| Mar 26, 2018 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 101-93 | |
| Mar 28, 2018 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-114 | |
| Mar 30, 2018 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 93-92 | |
| Apr 01, 2018 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 121-97 | |
| Apr 05, 2018 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 100-96 | |
| Apr 06, 2018 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2018 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 113-94 | |
| Apr 11, 2018 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-106 |