Minnesota Timberwolves' Path to NBA Finals Uncertain
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the most successful playoff teams in the Western Conference over the past three seasons, making the Conference Finals in two of the last three seasons and going six games with the San Antonio Spurs in the second round this past season. Despite their postseason success, they've never been able to get over the hump and make the Finals. They lost in five games to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 and then in five games to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025 in the Conference Finals.
What's Changed This Offseason?
This offseason, the team addressed a significant need by adding another creator next to Anthony Edwards by trading for LaMelo Ball. The addition of Ball has given the Timberwolves a boost in their chances to make a deep playoff run. According to FanDuel, the Timberwolves have the fourth-best odds to come out of the West at +1500, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder (+125), San Antonio Spurs (+155), and Denver Nuggets (+1300).
Recent Form and Injuries
The Timberwolves have struggled with injuries in recent games, with a recent form of 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first). They lost the last four games, including a 109-139 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on May 16, 2026. The team's ability to stay healthy will be crucial in their pursuit of a Finals appearance.
Can They Overcome the Top Teams?
Assuming the Thunder and Spurs are the top two seeds in the West, Minnesota would have to beat both of them to make it to the Finals. That's a tough task for a team that hasn't looked on the level of either team when it matters in the past two seasons. If the Thunder and Spurs aren't the top two seeds, the path to a Finals appearance becomes a little bit easier, assuming they don't have to play one of those two teams in the first round.
What Comes Next?
After that, it will come down to health. If Minnesota can bring a healthy lineup into the postseason and other teams are a little banged up, that would be a big break for the team. One issue is that teams like the Spurs and Thunder, and even the Lakers, have more depth than Minnesota, so they are able to survive injuries better than Minnesota. The Timberwolves will need to find a way to stay healthy and overcome the top teams in the West if they want to make their first-ever NBA Finals appearance.
