Here we go, Canis Hoopus faithful - Timberwolves basketball is officially back! No more scrimmage vibes. No more International Friendship Games Against Teams Who Just Lost by 58 to the Clippers. Starting tonight… the games actually count.
And the stakes have never been higher.
Back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances pushed this franchise out of “hopeful upstart” territory and firmly into “stop flirting and finally ask the trophy to prom.” Last season was chaotic from the jump. Karl-Anthony Towns shipped to New York in late September, the fanbase briefly holding nightly candlelight vigils, the team sleepwalking through the first 60 games, only to finally assemble, Voltron-style, in April and bulldoze the Lakers and Warriors before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This time? No seismic trades. No chemistry crisis. This team enters 2025–26 already knowing who they are.
The question is whether they can _start_ like the team they _finished_ as.
Because make no mistake, the Western Conference is an absolute gulag this year. There are no gimme games. The difference between the 2 seed and the Play-In will probably be one poorly defended second-quarter possession in March. Minnesota cannot afford the slow-start habit they’ve had for, well… 37 years.
If you’re already armed with NBA League Pass or have FanDuel Sports Network North as part of your TV package, you’re good. If you don’t, FanDuel Sports Network - North is offering Canis Hoopus readers a **30-day free trial**, which is honestly the best “try before you inevitably give in and subscribe anyway” offer you’ll see all season. FanDuel Sports Network - North is the Wolves’ broadcast home this year, including tonight’s opener in Portland, tipping at 9:00 p.m. CDT.
* First 5,000 using the code SBNFALL30 get a free month
* Never miss a Timberwolves game. Stream all season long with FanDuel Sports Network
Prefer the theater of the mind? Wolves App and iHeart Radio have you covered on the audio side. But this feels like a night you _want_ Ant’s scowl and Rudy’s armspan on a giant 4K screen.
So buckle in. The trilogy is entering film three.
Stop knocking on the door.
See More:
* [Timberwolves Game Previews](/timberwolves-game-previews)