Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards
Date: November 19th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There was a time when a Minnesota Timberwolves “businesslike win” required divine intervention, a blood sacrifice, and at least one opponent forgetting their shoes. Wolves fans know this. There’s trauma in those stands. Historically, this franchise doesn’t handle prosperity… it observes it from a safe distance while holding a fire extinguisher.
So when the Wolves rolled into Monday night and absolutely bullied Dallas by 24, it felt like a role reversal. Minnesota wasn’t the soft young pup this time. Minnesota was the vet walking into the dog park like, “Nope, not today.”
Dallas was undermanned, sure. Kyrie’s been a scratch all season, and then they added Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively to the injury list. That is basically an entire functional front court gone. But still, past Wolves teams would’ve used that as an excuse to play with their food, dribble the ball off their feet three times, give up a 19–2 run, and require a frantic fourth-quarter bailout.
Not this team.
Not this version.
And while everyone came in ready to scout Cooper Flagg, it was Naz Reid who stole the show with a cool, effortless 22. Naz didn’t just lead all scorers; he practically patted Flagg on the head and said, “Nice potential, kid. Come back when your voice drops.”
Add in all five starters hitting double digits, an offense that finally looks like it understands the “pass the basketball” concept, and a defense that continues to maintain its intensity… and you had a dismantling. A surgical, hygienic, almost boring demolition. The kind of win good teams get all the time but Wolves fans treat like spotting a UFO.
Which brings us to Wednesday.
And the Washington Wizards.
Another tomato can. Another maturity test.
Let’s not overreact to standings in mid-November, but we should react slightly. At the moment, the Wolves find themselves in familiar territory, once again tiptoeing the line between the playoffs and the play-in. OKC looks like they’re trying to brute-force another No. 1 seed. Houston, the Lakers, and San Antonio are all sandwiched between the Wolves at No. 6 and Denver at No. 2.
With so many quality teams stacked up top, how can the Wolves put themselves in position to grab home court, a 2- or 3-seed, and a position opposite of the Thunder in the playoff bracket? Beat all the teams you’re supposed to beat.
Which, by the way, Minnesota is doing — except against teams over .500, where they’re 0–5. Ouch.
So yes. Wizards night matters more than it should. Handle your business here, and suddenly you’re 10–5, you’re humming, and you’re heading into Phoenix and Sacramento with something resembling momentum instead of dread.
Keys to Beating Washington
1. Maintain the intensity. Seriously. Don’t mess around.
Every NBA team has talent, pride, and that one irrational-confidence guy who will light you up if you let him hit two early threes.
So don’t let them hit the early threes.
Minnesota needs to land the opening punch, keep the defensive pressure suffocating, and turn this into a foregone conclusion by halftime. No food play. No boredom turnovers. No rope-a-dope. Just handle your business like the grown-up version of yourself.
2. Ant needs to find his cape again.
Look, injuries happen, hamstrings linger, and Edwards is one of those prideful, stubborn players who hates showing weakness. But the MVP dream we had in October? That dream needs a little CPR right now.
Yes, he’s had flashes with the Utah 30-pieces and the occasional takeover quarter, but the Wolves need him trending upward as they head toward that Thanksgiving showdown with OKC. He doesn’t have to drop 40 on Washington. Just show signs. Confident threes. A thunderous dunk. A quarter where he goes off and reignites those MJ comparisons.
Remember those first couple games where the Wolves acted like they were being charged a fee every time they passed? That’s gone now. This offense has become connective, patient, unselfish.
Props to Randle for the drive-and-kick. Props to the entire roster for finding Gobert on lobs more consistently.
This is who they need to be. Against Washington, it should be more than enough.
Prediction: Put Them Away Early, Go Home Happy
Let’s be honest. This should be another 20-point win. The Wolves completely outclass the Wizards. The only real enemy here is complacency — the same ghost that haunted Minnesota’s past and kept them on the play-in tightrope last season.
But this year feels different.
This year feels mature.
This year feels like the Wolves might actually be… responsible?
Beat Washington, move to 10–5, keep stacking wins, and get ready for the next real challenge on Thanksgiving-eve against the ever-terrifying Thunder.
You want a top-three seed? You want home court? You want to avoid the “hope the bracket breaks your way” nightmare?
Start by not embarrassing yourselves on Wednesday.
Start by acting like the adults you’ve finally become.
The table is set.
Don’t trip over the silverware.
