2018–19 Minnesota Timberwolves season

2018–19 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach	Tom Thibodeau (fired) Ryan Saunders (interim)
General manager	Scott Layden
Owners	Glen Taylor
Arena	Target Center
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 5th (Northwest) Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports North
Radio	WCCO
< 2017–18 2019–20 >

The 2018–19 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 30th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Before the start of training camp, disgruntled All-Star Jimmy Butler requested a trade, indicating that he would not re-sign with the Timberwolves during the 2019 off-season. After multiple disputes and games where he played for Minnesota, Butler's wish was finally granted, sending him to the Philadelphia 76ers on November 12, 2018. On March 30, 2019, on his return against his former team Butler was booed during the players' introductions.

On January 6, 2019, the Timberwolves fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and named Ryan Saunders as interim head coach.^[1] With a loss against the Hornets on March 21, the Timberwolves were eliminated from playoff contention.

Draft[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality(-ies)	College / Club
1	20	Josh Okogie	SG	Nigeria  United States	Georgia Tech
2	48	Keita Bates-Diop	SF	United States	Ohio State

Roster[]

2018–19 Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From F 31 Bates-Diop, Keita 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 229 lb (104 kg) 1996–01–23 Ohio State G 8 Bayless, Jerryd 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–08–20 Arizona G 55 Creek, Mitch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1992–08–27 Australia F 33 Covington, Robert  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 237 lb (108 kg) 1990–12–14 Tennessee State F 9 Deng, Luol 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1985–04–16 Duke C 5 Dieng, Gorgui 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 252 lb (114 kg) 1990–01–18 Louisville F 67 Gibson, Taj 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1985–06–24 Southern California G 1 Jones, Tyus 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1996–05–10 Duke G 20 Okogie, Josh 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1998–09–01 Georgia Tech F 13 Reynolds, Cameron 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1995–02–07 Tulane G 25 Rose, Derrick  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1988–10–04 Memphis F 36 Šarić, Dario 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1994–04–08 Croatia G 0 Teague, Jeff  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1988–06–10 Wake Forest G 3 Terrell, Jared (TW) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1995–02–10 Rhode Island F 43 Tolliver, Anthony 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1985–06–01 Creighton C 32 Towns, Karl-Anthony (C) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1995–11–15 Kentucky G/F 22 Wiggins, Andrew (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1995–02–23 Kansas G 12 Williams, C. J. (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1990–02–06 North Carolina State

Head coach Ryan Saunders Assistant coach(es) Malik Allen Larry Greer Ed Pinckney Jerry Sichting John Lucas III (player development) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate (TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Last transaction: 2019–02–27

Standings[]

Division[]

Northwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	0.0	34–7	20–21	12–4	82
x – Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	1.0	32–9	21–20	6–10	82
x – Utah Jazz	50	32	.610	4.0	29–12	21–20	8–8	82
x – Oklahoma City Thunder	49	33	.598	5.0	27–14	22–19	9–7	82
Minnesota Timberwolves	36	46	.439	18.0	25–16	11–30	5–11	82

Conference[]

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c – Golden State Warriors *	57	25	.695	–	82
2	y – Denver Nuggets *	54	28	.659	3.0	82
3	x – Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	4.0	82
4	y – Houston Rockets *	53	29	.646	4.0	82
5	x – Utah Jazz	50	32	.610	7.0	82
6	x – Oklahoma City Thunder	49	33	.598	8.0	82
7	x – San Antonio Spurs	48	34	.585	9.0	82
8	x – Los Angeles Clippers	48	34	.585	9.0	82
9	Sacramento Kings	39	43	.476	18.0	82
10	Los Angeles Lakers	37	45	.451	20.0	82
11	Minnesota Timberwolves	36	46	.439	21.0	82
12	Memphis Grizzlies	33	49	.402	24.0	82
13	New Orleans Pelicans	33	49	.402	24.0	82
14	Dallas Mavericks	33	49	.402	24.0	82
15	Phoenix Suns	19	63	.232	38.0	82

Game log[]

Preseason[]

2018 preseason game log Total: 1–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–2)
Preseason: 1–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 September 29 @ Golden State W 114–110 Teague (17) Dieng (8) Jones (4) Oracle Arena 19,596 1–0 2 October 3 @ LA Clippers L 101–128 Towns (18) Dieng, Towns (7) Tolliver (3) Staples Center 10,099 1–1 3 October 5 Oklahoma City L 101–113 Towns (23) Towns, Wiggins (7) Teague, Jones (4) Target Center 9,801 1–2 4 October 7 Milwaukee L 107–125 Towns (33) Towns (12) Teague (7) Hilton Coliseum 11,603 1–3 5 October 12 @ Milwaukee L 121–143 Gibson (21) Gibson (7) Jones (5) Fiserv Forum 14,724 1–4
2018–19 season schedule

Regular season[]

2018–19 game log Total: 36–46 (Home: 25–16; Road: 11–30)
October: 4–4 (Home: 4–1; Road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 17 @ San Antonio L 108–112 Jeff Teague (27) Taj Gibson (11) Jeff Teague (4) AT&T Center 18,354 0–1 2 October 19 Cleveland W 131–123 Jimmy Butler (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Jeff Teague (7) Target Center 18,978 1–1 3 October 20 @ Dallas L 136–140 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Gorgui Dieng (6) Jeff Teague (9) American Airlines Center 20,205 1–2 4 October 22 Indiana W 101–91 Jimmy Butler (20) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 10,371 2–2 5 October 24 @ Toronto L 105–112 Jimmy Butler (23) Josh Okogie (11) Jeff Teague (9) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 2–3 6 October 26 Milwaukee L 95–125 Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Towns, Gibson (7) Jeff Teague, Jones (4) Target Center 16,334 2–4 7 October 29 LA Lakers W 124–120 Jimmy Butler (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Derrick Rose (7) Target Center 18,978 3–4 8 October 31 Utah W 128–125 Derrick Rose (50) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Derrick Rose (6) Target Center 10,079 4–4
November : 7–7 (Home: 5–2; Road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 9 November 2 @ Golden State L 99–116 Andrew Wiggins (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Tyus Jones (9) Oracle Arena 19,596 4–5 10 November 4 @ Portland L 81–111 Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Taj Gibson (8) Tyus Jones (4) Moda Center 19,522 4–6 11 November 5 @ LA Clippers L 109–120 Derrick Rose (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jimmy Butler (5) Staples Center 16,564 4–7 12 November 7 @ LA Lakers L 110–114 Derrick Rose (31) Taj Gibson (11) Rose, Butler, Wiggins (5) Staples Center 18,997 4–8 13 November 9 @ Sacramento L 110–121 Karl-Anthony Towns (39) Karl-Anthony Towns (19) Jimmy Butler (8) Golden 1 Center 17,583 4–9 14 November 12 Brooklyn W 120–113 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Jeff Teague (11) Target Center 10,186 5–9 15 November 14 New Orleans W 107–100 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jeff Teague (14) Target Center 11,636 6–9 16 November 16 Portland W 112–96 Andrew Wiggins (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Jeff Teague (7) Target Center 18,978 7–9 17 November 18 Memphis L 87–100 Derrick Rose (18) Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Teague, Wiggins, Jones (4) Target Center 13,179 7–10 18 November 21 Denver L 101–103 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Towns, Dieng, Šarić (7) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 15,086 7–11 19 November 23 @ Brooklyn W 112–102 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Taj Gibson (11) Jeff Teague (9) Barclays Center 12,814 8–11 20 November 24 Chicago W 111–96 Karl-Anthony Towns (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Target Center 17,119 9–11 21 November 26 @ Cleveland W 102–95 Robert Covington (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (6) Quicken Loans Arena 19,432 10–11 22 November 28 San Antonio W 128–89 Robert Covington (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (9) Target Center 11,023 11–11
December : 6–9 (Home: 3–3; Road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 23 December 1 Boston L 109–118 Derrick Rose (26) Robert Covington (10) Jeff Teague (6) Target Center 17,663 11–12 24 December 3 Houston W 103–91 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Towns, Gibson (11) Jeff Teague (7) Target Center 13,844 12–12 25 December 5 Charlotte W 121–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (18) Target Center 11,248 13–12 26 December 8 @ Portland L 105–113 Andrew Wiggins (20) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Derrick Rose (9) Moda Center 19,359 13–13 27 December 10 @ Golden State L 108–116 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (11) Oracle Arena 19,596 13–14 28 December 12 @ Sacramento L 130–141 Andrew Wiggins (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (13) Golden 1 Center 15,770 13–15 29 December 15 @ Phoenix L 99–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (11) Talking Stick Resort Arena 14,244 13–16 30 December 17 Sacramento W 132–105 Andrew Wiggins (17) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Derrick Rose (11) Target Center 12,417 14–16 31 December 19 Detroit L 123–129 (OT) Derrick Rose (33) Towns, Gibson (8) Derrick Rose (7) Target Center 15,883 14–17 32 December 21 @ San Antonio L 98–124 Andrew Wiggins (15) Covington, Gibson (7) Towns, Šarić (4) AT&T Center 17,708 14–18 33 December 23 @ Oklahoma City W 114–112 Andrew Wiggins (30) Dario Šarić (8) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 15–18 34 December 26 @ Chicago W 112–94 Derrick Rose (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (20) Derrick Rose (8) United Center 21,852 16–18 35 December 28 Atlanta L 120–123 (OT) Robert Covington (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (19) Derrick Rose (9) Target Center 18,978 16–19 36 December 30 @ Miami W 113–104 Karl-Anthony Towns (34) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) AmericanAirlines Arena 19,600 17–19 37 December 31 @ New Orleans L 114–123 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Tyus Jones (13) Smoothie King Center 14,904 17–20
January : 8–6 (Home: 5–3; Road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 38 January 2 @ Boston L 102–115 Andrew Wiggins (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Tyus Jones (9) TD Garden 18,624 17–21 39 January 4 Orlando W 120–103 Karl-Anthony Towns (29) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 14,355 18–21 40 January 6 LA Lakers W 108–86 Towns, Wiggins (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Jeff Teague (11) Target Center 18,978 19–21 41 January 8 @ Oklahoma City W 119–117 Andrew Wiggins (40) Andrew Wiggins (10) Jeff Teague (5) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 20–21 42 January 11 Dallas L 115–119 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Taj Gibson (15) Tyus Jones (9) Target Center 18,978 20–22 43 January 12 New Orleans W 110–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 16,384 21–22 44 January 15 @ Philadelphia L 107–149 Derrick Rose (15) Gorgui Dieng (9) Derrick Rose (4) Wells Fargo Center 20,487 21–23 45 January 18 San Antonio L 113–116 Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Taj Gibson (11) Teague, Rose (6) Target Center 17,222 21–24 46 January 20 Phoenix W 116–114 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 14,607 22–24 47 January 22 @ Phoenix W 118–91 Karl-Anthony Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena 14,460 23–24 48 January 24 @ LA Lakers W 120–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jerryd Bayless (8) Staples Center 18,997 24–24 49 January 25 @ Utah L 102–106 Karl-Anthony Towns (33) Andrew Wiggins (11) Jerryd Bayless (5) Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306 24–25 50 January 27 Utah L 111–125 Andrew Wiggins (35) Dario Šarić (11) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Target Center 14,542 24–26 51 January 30 Memphis W 99–97 (OT) Jerryd Bayless (19) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jerryd Bayless (12) Target Center 13,615 25–26
February : 4–7 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 52 February 2 Denver L 106–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jerryd Bayless (10) Target Center 17,208 25–27 53 February 5 @ Memphis L 106–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Jerryd Bayless (8) FedExForum 13,454 25–28 54 February 7 @ Orlando L 112–122 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Isaiah Canaan (6) Amway Center 17,184 25–29 55 February 8 @ New Orleans L 117–122 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Andrew Wiggins (10) Andrew Wiggins (7) Smoothie King Center 16,980 25–30 56 February 11 LA Clippers W 130–120 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 13,782 26–30 57 February 13 Houston W 121–111 Jeff Teague (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Jeff Teague (12) Target Center 15,131 27–30 58 February 22 @ N. Y. Knicks W 115–104 Derrick Rose (20) Taj Gibson (11) Jeff Teague (11) Madison Square Garden 19,096 28–30 59 February 23 @ Milwaukee L 128–140 Derrick Rose (23) Andrew Wiggins (9) Tyus Jones (9) Fiserv Forum 17,972 28–31 60 February 25 Sacramento W 112–105 Karl-Anthony Towns (34) Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Tyus Jones (8) Target Center 13,691 29–31 61 February 27 @ Atlanta L 123–131 (OT) Karl-Anthony Towns (37) Karl-Anthony Towns (18) Tyus Jones (11) State Farm Arena 14,101 29–32 62 February 28 @ Indiana L 115–122 Karl-Anthony Towns (47) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jeff Teague (5) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,003 29–33
March : 5–9 (Home: 4–3; Road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 63 March 3 @ Washington L 121–135 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (8) Capital One Arena 17,869 29–34 64 March 5 Oklahoma City W 131–120 Karl-Anthony Towns (41) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Jeff Teague (12) Target Center 15,728 30–34 65 March 6 @ Detroit L 114–131 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Dario Šarić (7) Jeff Teague (8) Little Caesars Arena 15,240 30–35 66 March 9 Washington W 135–130 (OT) Karl-Anthony Towns (40) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 14,381 31–35 67 March 10 N. Y. Knicks W 103–92 Taj Gibson (25) Taj Gibson (8) Jeff Teague (10) Target Center 13,806 32–35 68 March 12 @ Denver L 107–133 Karl-Anthony Towns (34) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Tolliver, Bates-Diop, Williams (4) Pepsi Center 16,874 32–36 69 March 14 @ Utah L 100–120 Karl-Anthony Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Tyus Jones (9) Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306 32–37 70 March 17 @ Houston L 102–117 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Toyota Center 18,055 32–38 71 March 19 Golden State L 107–117 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Tyus Jones (7) Target Center 17,964 32–39 72 March 21 @ Charlotte L 106–113 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Tyus Jones (7) Spectrum Center 15,576 32–40 73 March 23 @ Memphis W 112–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Tyus Jones (9) FedExForum 16,977 33–40 74 March 26 L. A. Clippers L 111–122 Karl-Anthony Towns (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Tyus Jones (8) Target Center 13,176 33–41 75 March 29 Golden State W 131–130 (OT) Andrew Wiggins (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Target Center 18,978 34–41 76 March 30 Philadelphia L 109–118 Andrew Wiggins (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Jerryd Bayless (7) Target Center 18,978 34–42
April : 2–4 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 77 April 1 Portland L 122–132 Andrew Wiggins (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Tyus Jones (10) Target Center 11,209 34–43 78 April 3 @ Dallas W 110–108 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Andrew Wiggins (7) American Airlines Center 19,576 35–43 79 April 5 Miami W 111–109 Šarić, Dieng (19) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Šarić, Bayless (5) Target Center 17,763 36–43 80 April 7 Oklahoma City L 126–132 Karl-Anthony Towns (35) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Tyus Jones (13) Target Center 18,978 36–44 81 April 9 Toronto L 100–120 Wiggins, Dieng (16) Dario Šarić (9) Tyus Jones (10) Target Center 16,119 36–45 82 April 10 @ Denver L 95–99 Andrew Wiggins (25) Gorgui Dieng (11) Tyus Jones (8) Pepsi Center 16,332 36–46
2018–19 season schedule

Player statistics[]

Player	Pos.	GP	GS	MP	Reb.	Ast.	Stl.	Blk.	Pts.
Keita Bates-Diop	SF	30	3	503	83	17	18	14	151
Jerryd Bayless≠	PG	34	6	657	62	119	18	2	209
Jimmy Butler†	SG	10	10	361	52	43	24	10	213
Isaiah Canaan≠	PG	7	1	95	5	19	2	1	33
Robert Covington≠	SF	22	22	763	126	32	50	24	318
Mitch Creek≠	SF	1	0	12	2	1	1	0	6
Luol Deng	SF	22	2	392	73	18	15	8	157
Gorgui Dieng	C	76	2	1,031	311	72	48	41	485
Taj Gibson	PF	70	57	1,686	458	84	53	39	753
Tyus Jones	PG	68	23	1,560	134	327	81	5	468
James Nunnally‡	SF	13	0	64	4	5	1	0	27
Josh Okogie	SG	74	52	1,757	218	91	88	33	570
Cameron Reynolds≠	SG	19	0	259	31	13	6	2	95
Derrick Rose	PG	51	13	1,392	140	220	31	12	917
Dario Šarić≠	PF	68	28	1,627	371	101	41	6	714
Jeff Teague	PG	42	41	1,264	106	343	43	18	510
Jared Terrell	SG	14	0	111	6	12	3	2	31
Anthony Tolliver	PF	65	0	1,079	177	46	17	21	326
Karl-Anthony Towns	C	77	77	2,545	954	259	67	125	1,880
Andrew Wiggins	SF	73	73	2,543	352	184	70	48	1,321
C. J. Williams	SG	15	0	128	8	12	6	0	39

After all games.^[2]
‡Waived during the season
^†Traded during the season
^≠Acquired during the season

Transactions[]

Free agents[]

Re-signed[]

Player	Signed
Derrick Rose[3]	July 4, 2018

Additions[]

Player	Signed	Former Team
Jared Terrell[4]	Two-way contract	Rhode Island Rams
Anthony Tolliver[5]	July 9, 2018	Detroit Pistons
C. J. Williams[6]	Two-way contract	Los Angeles Clippers
James Nunnally[7]	August 7, 2018	Fenerbahçe Doğuş
Luol Deng[8]	September 10, 2018	Los Angeles Lakers
Darius Johnson-Odom[9]	September 24, 2018	Vanoli Cremona
Jonathan Stark[9]		Murray State Racers

Subtractions[]

Player	Reason Left	New Team
Cole Aldrich[10]	Waived	Atlanta Hawks
Nemanja Bjelica[11]	Free agency	Sacramento Kings
Amile Jefferson[12]	Two-way contract	Orlando Magic
Anthony Brown[13]	Free agency	Philadelphia 76ers

References[]