Minnesota left Miami 1-0 after a 131-106 win and goes straight to Orlando to finish a two-game trip. After that, the week runs through Target Center three times, with one stop in Cleveland in between.
Orlando, Shorthanded
Friday's game at the Magic matters most this week, and Orlando arrives with fewer bodies than it would like. The Magic lost their opener and have ruled out Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson. Black averaged 15.0 points last season. The core is still there. Paolo Banchero put up 22.2 points and 8.4 rebounds a year ago, Desmond Bane scored 20.1 across all 82 games, and Franz Wagner averaged 20.6 in his 34 appearances. Sean Sweeney's team finished 45-37 with a 113.6 defensive rating, not far behind Minnesota's 112.5. Winning there would send the Wolves home 2-0, with both wins on the road against teams they have measured themselves against since the 1987 expansion.
Two Nights, Two Cities
After Orlando the Wolves get a day off, then host Toronto on October 25. That is the only game this week with national television listed, on NBA TV. The next night they play in Cleveland, the week's only back-to-back. In October, Minnesota listed seven players day-to-day for rest on October 16 alone, so the second night is where to watch the rotation. In Miami the starters scored 100 points and the bench 27. Ayo Dosunmu gave 16 of those off the bench in 29 minutes, and Shannon played 20. Monday will test that depth more than Wednesday night did.
Home, With One Chair Empty
The Warriors visit October 28 and the Clippers October 30, so three of the five games are at Target Center. Donte DiVincenzo is the only Wolf on the injury report, sidelined by a right Achilles injury with April 2, 2027 as the target date. He played all 82 games last season at 30.4 minutes a night, and that kind of availability is hard to replace. The defensive standard set in Miami is worth carrying through the week: Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds and finished plus-29, Jonathan Kuminga had four steals and Jaden McDaniels three. Edwards will draw the attention. What should last for five games is holding a capable offense to 106.
Do the Timberwolves have a back-to-back this week?
Yes. Minnesota hosts the Raptors on October 25 and plays at Cleveland on October 26.
When will Donte DiVincenzo return for the Timberwolves?
DiVincenzo is out with a right Achilles injury. His target return date is April 2, 2027.
