Game Preview #39 – Timberwolves at Wizards

The Wolves head to Washington trying to get back on track after a close loss to the Grizzlies. Can Minnesota maintain its focus and make easy work of an overmatched Wizards squad?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Washington Wizards
Date: January 13th, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Location: Capital One Arena
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves Need to Handle Business in D.C. to Avoid Another Letdown

The Minnesota Timberwolves season has been one long game of Chutes and Ladders. One minute, they’re climbing toward the top of the Western Conference standings; the next, they’re sliding back down thanks to boneheaded turnovers, defensive lapses, or plain old bad luck. Saturday’s gut-punch loss to the Memphis Grizzlies was the latest slide—a missed opportunity to gain ground against a rival they’re chasing in the playoff race. But there’s no time to wallow because the Wolves head to Washington next to face a Washington Wizards team that’s spent the season playing the role of league doormat.

You’d think this would be a layup—a “get-right” game against a 6-30 team that’s about as dangerous as a bag of wet socks. But if you’ve been watching the Wolves this season, you know nothing comes easy. This is the same team that managed to lose back-to-back games to the tanking Blazers and found new ways to implode in Toronto. If they don’t come into this game with the right mindset, they could very easily stumble again.

The Memphis Meltdown

Before we dive into Wizards-Wolves, let’s address Saturday night’s debacle. The Grizzlies came into Target Center as the league’s highest-scoring team, and we all knew Minnesota’s defense would have to step up. Instead, the Wolves tried to match Memphis punch-for-punch in a track meet.

Spoiler alert: that strategy didn’t work.

The Wolves kept pace offensively for most of the game, avoiding the prolonged scoring droughts that have plagued them all season. But this loss wasn’t about the offense—it was about discipline, hustle, and the little things. Minnesota gave up far too many offensive rebounds, surrendered a truckload of second-chance points, and turned the ball over in critical moments.

Rudy Gobert, usually the Wolves’ anchor in the paint, had one of his worst games of the season. He was a non-factor on the boards and botched key opportunities late, including a pair of free throws that could’ve swung the game. Anthony Edwards? He struggled from beyond the arc and never found his rhythm. And while Donte DiVincenzo lit up the scoreboard, some of his turnovers were so bad they should come with a warning label.

The bottom line: the Wolves let Memphis dictate the terms of the game. They missed an opportunity to prove they belong among the West’s elite, and now they’re stuck playing catch-up.

The Wizards: A Must-Win Game

So here we are. The Wolves are teetering on the edge of irrelevance in the Western Conference playoff race. Monday’s game against the Wizards isn’t just a chance to snap out of their funk—it’s a chance to stop the bleeding and regain momentum before things spiral out of control.

Let’s be real: the Wizards are a mess. They’re 6-30, their defense is softer than a Hallmark movie, and their offense is about as organized as a middle school jazz band. This is a team Minnesota should dominate. But that’s exactly what makes this game dangerous.

The Wolves have a bad habit of playing down to their competition. We saw it in Portland. We saw it in Toronto. If they come into this game assuming it’s a guaranteed win, they’ll find themselves in another nail-biter—or worse, another embarrassing loss.

Keys to Victory

1. Rebound, Rebound, Rebound

The Wolves got crushed on the glass against Memphis, and it cost them dearly. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid need to take this personally. If they can clean up the boards and limit Washington’s second-chance opportunities, it’ll go a long way toward securing the win.

2. Defensive Intensity

Minnesota’s defense has been its calling card for much of the season, but it was nowhere to be found on Saturday night. The Wolves need to close out on shooters, protect the paint, and play with the kind of energy that forces turnovers and fuels transition buckets.

3. Ball Movement

When the Wolves get bogged down in isolation basketball, bad things happen. Chris Finch needs to keep the offense moving—swing the ball, find the open man, and make the Wizards work on defense. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle can’t do it all themselves.

4. Avoid Scoring Droughts

This one feels like a broken record, but it’s worth repeating: the Wolves can’t afford to go five or six minutes without a bucket. They’ve done it too many times this season, and against a team like Washington, it’s the only way they lose.

What’s at Stake

The Wolves are in the middle of a critical stretch. After the Wizards, they face the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers—a gauntlet of tough opponents. Beating Washington won’t erase the sting of Saturday’s loss, but it’s a necessary first step toward climbing back up the standings.

At the end of the day, this game isn’t about X’s and O’s. It’s about focus, effort, and execution. The Wolves have more talent, more depth, and more to play for than the Wizards. But if they don’t bring the right mindset, they’ll find themselves in a dogfight they have no business being in.

Minnesota can’t afford to drop this one. Not with how tight the West is and not with how many winnable games they’ve already let slip away. It’s time to stop the rollercoaster and start building something real.

The Wizards are handing the Wolves a golden opportunity on a silver platter. Let’s see if they take it.