Minnesota has played five recent games on October 24 and lost four, including last year's 110-128 at the Lakers. This year the Wolves wake up 2-0, with the Raptors due at Target Center tomorrow.
Toronto, Then and Now
The only October 24 game in the Wolves' recent history against tomorrow's opponent came in 2018: a 112-105 loss at Toronto. This Raptors team went 46-36 last season, with Kawhi Leonard at 27.9 points in 65 games and Scottie Barnes at 18.1. Darko Rajakovic's club is also 2-0, and Nate Bittle is out with a foot injury. Both teams come in with one day of rest. Minnesota's own date record is thin: the lone win was 117-115 at Sacramento in 2024, and last year's 110-128 loss at the Lakers is the freshest memory. This group has already done better than the previous ones.
Fifteen Wins to Fifty-Eight
The franchise opened on November 3, 1989 with a 106-94 loss to Seattle, then bottomed out at 15-67 in 1991-92. Kevin Garnett's arrival changed the arithmetic, and the 2003-04 team went 58-24, took the top seed in the West and reached the conference finals with Garnett as MVP. That is the standard the building measures against. Chris Finch, now in his sixth full season, has taken the current group to two straight conference finals, then a six-game win over Denver and a semifinal loss to San Antonio last spring. Gobert, signed to a three-year, $110 million extension in October 2024, is the defensive anchor of that run.
Smaller, Playing Bigger
Friday in Orlando, Minnesota led by 26 and won 115-93 even though Anthony Edwards shot 5-23 and LaMelo Ball went 4-13. Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic wrote that the Wolves were plus 16 on the boards, as they were against Miami. That matters because the summer's biggest question was whether Ball's game fits a team that wins by defending. Two games say the roster can still win ugly. Jaden McDaniels, who agreed to a one-year extension on October 19, led the team in scoring with 15 points alongside Edwards, and Ayo Dosunmu added ten assists off the bench. Toronto is the first test with real history attached.
When do the Timberwolves play the Raptors?
Minnesota hosts Toronto tomorrow, October 25, in a game carried by NBA TV. Both teams are 2-0.
How have the Timberwolves done on October 24 in recent seasons?
They are 1-4 in the five games listed, with the only win a 117-115 victory at Sacramento in 2024. They lost 110-128 at the Lakers on the date last year.
