The Timberwolves clinched a playoff spot for the third-consecutive season on Monday night, but for the first time in that span they will not have to emerge from the play-in tournament to reach the actual playoffs.
Last season the Wolves lost their first play-in game to the Lakers, then defeated Oklahoma City to secure the No. 8 seed before losing to top-seeded Denver in the first round.
This year the Wolves are guaranteed to finish no worse than sixth in the Western Conference, but there is now a larger goal in front of them: winning the West.