Let's look at the playoff qualification chances of the Timberwolves.
As the 2024-25 regular season is approaching its end, teams are pushing to secure few final playoff spots this year. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers have already booked their berths. However, there is a high-voltage drama going on in the middle of the standings.
With fewer regular season games remaining, teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves have pulled their socks, and are aiming maximum wins. The Timberwolves, who have made it to 12 playoffs in 36 seasons, have struggled throughout 2024-25. While they managed to finish with a 56-26 tally in the last season, the Wolves have won only 41 of their 73 games in an injury-riddled season so far.
However, they have put on visible efforts off late, winning seven of their last ten games. It shows that the players, including the reserves, are keen on securing a playoff spot and probably book their first Finals berth or even a championship. The team is highly reliable on players like Edwards who leads their offense with a 27.3 points per game average, and Rudy Gobert, who leads defense.
Having said that, let’s look at the chances of the Wolves making it to the postseason in 2024-25.
Also Read: Los Angles Clippers Playoff Picture: What Are LA Clippers’ Chances for Making It to the Playoffs?
Currently seated in the eighth spot, the Timberwolves have 91.8% chances of making it to the playoffs this season. They have a 29.4% chance of finishing as the seventh seed. They hold a 28.5% chance of finishing as the sixth seed and a 15.1% chance of finishing eighth.
| Playoff Seed | Percentage |
| 3rd | 1.3 |
| 4th | 4.3 |
| 5th | 12.6 |
| 6th | 28.5 |
| 7th | 29.4 |
| 8th | 15.1 |
Source: Basketball Reference
If the Timberwolves win most of their remaining games, they have high chances finishing as the sixth or the seventh seed. While there are 15.1% chances of them finishing eighth, the Wolves would avoid it in any case. It is because they will clash with the No. 1 seeded Thunder in the first round, which would mean a direct exit from the playoffs. The inconsistent Wolves have almost no chance of beating the Thunder because they don’t have the offensive firepower, and OKC is the No.1 defensive team in the NBA.
Grabbing the seventh seed would be a highly favorable scenario for them, considering the Nuggets or the Lakers secure the second seed. It would be because the Lakers and the Nuggets cannot be trusted much. While Denver doesn’t have a decent defense, the Lakers lack a big man. In that case, guarding Naz Reid, and the rest of the forwards will be tough for them.
In their last two games, the Timberwolves extended their winning streak and recorded back-to-back wins. After taking down the Pistons, they clinched a narrow 140-139 two-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets in an absolute thriller. After occupying the eighth position in the standings, they have moved up a spot, on the seventh. If they continue to win games and recorded maximum victories in the remaining six regular-season games, they will eliminate their chances of clashing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Clippers, who were earlier seeded sixth have been pushed to the eighth spot, something no team would want. The Warriors, on the other hand, have moved to the fifth spot, while the Memphis Grizzlies are on the sixth. However, all three teams have same number of wins, and almost equal number of losses as well. It means that all these teams will continue to engage in a tough battle, in order to get a better seed, directly impacting their playoffs journey.
As per the latest chances, the Wolves have 92.4% chances of qualifying for the playoffs. However their probability of finishing third in the standings has increased from 0.3% to 1.3%. They are still likely to finish in the fourth spot with the 6.2% probability
While there are 18.3% chances of them finishing fifth, the Wolves are most likely to finish sixth with 28.1% chance. In addition, they hold 24.6% and 13.9% chances to finish in the seventh and eighth spot of the Western Conference Standings.
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