Timberwolves in NBA conference semifinals: the last times they were there and what happened
The Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to round two of the NBA Playoffs to face the winner of the Warriors-Rockets game in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference semifinals after defeating LeBron James’ and Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers in round one of the NBA Playoffs. They’ve made it to this point just twice in the history of the franchise - in 2004 and 2024.
we were told in 5. pic.twitter.com/mx4zXwW0ow
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 1, 2025
The Timberwolves’ last deep playoff run
The Timberwolves are one of ten teams that have never won an NBA championship. And in fact, in 36 total seasons in the league, they’ve never even made it to the NBA Finals before. The furthest they’ve made it is to the Western Conference Finals, and that’s happened just twice.
Interestingly, the Timberwolves have either been eliminated in the first round of the postseason, or they’ve made it all the way to the Conference Finals. So they’ve actually never been eliminated in the Conference semifinals
- 1990-1996: Missed playoffs
- 1997: Lost First Round vs Rockets (3-0)
- 1998: Lost First Round vs Supersonics (3-2)
- 1999: Lost First Round vs Spurs (3-1)
- 2000: Lost First Round vs Trail Blazers (3-1)
- 2001: Lost First Round vs Spurs (3-1)
- 2002: Lost First Round vs Mavericks (3-0)
- 2003: Lost First Round vs Lakers (4-2)
- 2004: Lost Western Conference Finals vs Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
- 2005-2018: Missed playoffs
- 2022: Lost First Round vs Grizzlies (4–2)
- 2023: Lost First Round vs Nuggets (4–1)
- 2024: Lost Western Conference Finals vs Mavericks (4–1)
This year, Minnesota will face the winner of the Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets round one series, which will have its final Game 7 tonight.
Follow along with AS USA’s LIVE coverage of the Warriors vs Rockets Game 7 playoff game!
From 1997 to 2004, the Wolves made it to the postseason every year, but it wasn’t until the final 8th straight year in the playoffs that they were able to make it past the first round. In 2004, they beat the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings to go on to the Conference Finals, where they lost to the Lakers.
They then saw a long playoff drought that finally ended in the 2017 season, when they lost in the first round to the Rockets. They had another (shorter this time) playoff drought from 2018 to 2020. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, they made the postseason, but lost in the first round. The 2023-24 season last year saw the Timberwolves make their deepest playoff run in 20 years.
In the first round of the playoffs last year, the Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns - Minnesota’s first sweep in a best-of-7 series in men’s professional sports history. They went on to face the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. In Game 6 of that series, the Timberwolves held a 45-point lead - the largest margin of victory against a defending champ in NBA playoff history. That win tied the series, and the Wolves went on to win Game 7 over the Nuggets, and move on to the Conference Finals for just the second time in franchise history. In the third round, Minnesota faced the Dallas Mavericks. Down 3-0 after three games, the Timberwolves beat the Mavs to force a Game 5, but lost in that game for a 4-1 series loss and elimination.
They now look to make it further than ever as they continue the hunt for their first-ever NBA title in 2025.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names