Timberwolves prepare to run the Western Conference gauntlet. First up: Phoenix Suns
The Timberwolves picked the wrong year to put together the second-best team in the franchise's 35-year history. State of play: In their quest for a first-ever trip to the NBA Finals, the Wolves will need to navigate a Western Conference field stacked with seven teams that won 49 or more games — something that hasn't happened since 2015.