Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers
Date: October 17th, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM CDT
Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Television Coverage: NBA League Pass
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
Here we go — the Timberwolves’ sixth and final preseason game. The last dress rehearsal before the orchestra actually plays. Tonight, the Wolves are in Philadelphia to face the Sixers in what’s essentially the NBA’s version of the opening credits before the real movie starts.
Given that this is the second half of a back-to-back after last night’s loss in Chicago, it’s safe to assume we won’t be seeing much, if any, of the Wolves’ main cast. Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert have clocked out, grabbed their duffel bags, and are probably halfway to a post-practice massage by now. And that’s fine. Nobody needs to see Ant in October Game No. 6 risking a sprained ankle to prove a point against the Delaware Blue Coats in disguise.
So tonight? It’s for the kids. The bubble guys. The “hey, maybe I can make the rotation if Finch squints hard enough” crew.
Last Night’s (Meaningless But Still Fun) Takeaways
Minnesota dropped another close one in Chicago, and yet, no one’s losing sleep over it. In fact, if you watched closely, you saw exactly what you needed to see:
- Anthony Edwards looked ready to drop 30 a night again. He went for 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting, tacking on 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Classic Ant: explosive, confident, and locked into regular season form.
- Julius Randle tacked on 23 points of his own.
- Rudy Gobert quietly went 16 on high-efficiency looks. Which, translated, means “he dunked a lot and didn’t miss.”
In other words: the starters look ready. The offense looked fluid. Nobody got hurt. That’s your preseason victory right there.
The Real Drama: Backup Point Guard Watch
The truth is that the Wolves’ biggest preseason storyline isn’t Edwards or Randle or Gobert. It’s the backup point guard spot, a topic that’s been beaten into the Minnesota fan psyche like a drum solo at a Metallica concert.
Rob Dillingham’s development might be the single biggest X-factor of this team’s season. The Wolves traded up for him last year because of his potential — that burst, that creativity, that ability to turn a dead possession into something electric. But potential doesn’t win playoff games.
After a shaky start, Dillingham’s last two outings have offered hope. He torched the Loong-Lions (granted, that was basically playing on rookie mode), but more impressively, he followed it up with 13 points and 5 assists last night in Chicago against real NBA players. He looked composed, quick, and confident, which are three adjectives that don’t always describe 19-year-old guards in October.
If Dillingham can keep that energy and limit the turnovers, he’ll make Finch’s life a lot easier. Because right now, the “non-Mike Conley minutes” are a gaping question mark in an otherwise complete roster.
The Final Audition
This final preseason game isn’t about the stars. It’s about the guys on the margins fighting for their livelihoods.
Players like Johnny Juzang, who’s right on the roster bubble, will have to show he belongs. Juzang can shoot, he’s shown flashes of offensive rhythm, but the Wolves have to decide if he’s worth that 15th roster spot or if they’d rather keep a chair open for flexibility later in the year. If he wants to make it, he’ll need to prove he can be more than a “break-glass-in-case-of-slump” scoring option.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon Jr. will get extended runs as two capable players looking to fill the team’s NAW-shaped void and carve out a niche on a deep roster.
Think of tonight like “The Bachelor: Roster Edition.” Roses go out after the game.
Final Thoughts Before It Counts
After tonight, there are no more excuses. No more half-speed rotations, no more experimental lineups. When the Wolves tip off Wednesday in Portland, it’s the start of what everyone in Minnesota hopes is a redemption arc after that gut-wrenching loss to OKC in the Western Conference Finals last spring.
This is the most talented Wolves team since… ever? (Sorry, KG, Sam, and Sprewell, but the modern depth is ridiculous.) The question isn’t whether they can win. It’s whether they can stay healthy, consistent, and keep their focus for 82 games plus however many it takes to get back to the doorstep of the Finals.
Until then, enjoy one last night of meaningless Wolves basketball. Watch the young guys fight for spots, cross your fingers for no injuries, and get ready. Because next week, it finally counts.
