The 1997–98 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 9th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired Stanley Roberts from the Los Angeles Clippers, and signed free agent Tom Hammonds. Kevin Garnett and second-year star Stephon Marbury both continued to establish themselves as two of the brightest stars in the NBA, as Garnett averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds per game and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. Marbury averaged 17.7 points and 8.6 assists per game. At midseason, the Timberwolves traded Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Anthony Peeler.
Despite losing Tom Gugliotta for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury after 41 games, the Timberwolves won seven of their final eight games posting their first winning record at 45–37. Third in the Midwest Division making their second consecutive playoff appearance. In the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves took a 2–1 series lead over the 2nd-seeded Seattle SuperSonics, but went on to lose the series in five games.[2] Following the season, Terry Porter signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, Roberts signed with the Houston Rockets, Cherokee Parks signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies, and Michael Williams was released.
Roster
Minnesota Timberwolves roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | No. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) | From |
SG |
7001430000000000000♠43 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Carr, Chris ![](../I/m/Cruz_Roja.svg.png) |
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
207 lb (94 kg) |
|
Southern Illinois |
PF |
7001170000000000000♠17 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Curley, Bill |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Boston College |
SF |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Garnett, Kevin |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Farragut Academy (HS) |
C |
7001400000000000000♠40 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Grant, Paul (IN) |
7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
255 lb (116 kg) |
|
Wisconsin |
PF |
7001240000000000000♠24 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Gugliotta, Tom ![](../I/m/Cruz_Roja.svg.png) |
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
240 lb (109 kg) |
|
North Carolina State |
PF |
7001200000000000000♠20 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Hammonds, Tom |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) |
|
Georgia Tech |
SG |
7001310000000000000♠31 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Jordan, Reggie |
7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
New Mexico State |
PG |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Marbury, Stephon |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Georgia Tech |
SF |
7001420000000000000♠42 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Mitchell, Sam |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Mercer |
C |
7001440000000000000♠44 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Parks, Cherokee |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
|
Duke |
SG |
7000100000000000000♠1 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Peeler, Anthony |
7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
208 lb (94 kg) |
|
Missouri |
PG |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Porter, Terry |
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
Wisconsin-Stevens Point |
C |
7001530000000000000♠53 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Roberts, Stanley |
7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
285 lb (129 kg) |
|
LSU |
PG |
7000600000000000000♠6 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Wheat, DeJuan |
7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
165 lb (75 kg) |
|
Louisville |
PG |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
![United States](../I/m/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png) |
Williams, Micheal |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
175 lb (79 kg) |
|
Baylor |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
Injured
Roster |
Roster Notes
- Rookie center Paul Grant missed the entire season due to a foot injury.
Regular season
Season standings
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1997-98 NBA Records |
Team |
ATL |
BOS |
CHA |
CHI |
CLE |
DAL |
DEN |
DET |
GSW |
HOU |
IND |
LAC |
LAL |
MIA |
MIL |
MIN |
NJN |
NYK |
ORL |
PHI |
PHO |
POR |
SAC |
SAS |
SEA |
TOR |
UTA |
VAN |
WAS |
Atlanta |
— | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Boston |
1–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
Charlotte |
0–4 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Chicago |
3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Cleveland |
0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
Dallas |
0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Denver |
0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit |
2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State |
0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Houston |
1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Indiana |
3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
L.A. Clippers |
0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers |
2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Miami |
3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Milwaukee |
1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Minnesota |
2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
New Jersey |
2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York |
2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Orlando |
2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Philadelphia |
1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Phoenix |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Portland |
1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento |
0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
San Antonio |
1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle |
1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Toronto |
0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
Utah |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Vancouver |
0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
Washington |
0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
Playoffs
West First Round
(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Timberwolves.
Game |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Visitor |
Score |
Record
(SEA-MIN) |
Venue |
Box score |
Television |
1 |
April 24 |
Seattle |
108 |
Minnesota |
83 |
1-0 |
KeyArena, Seattle, Washington |
1 |
TBS 9:30et |
2 |
April 26 |
Seattle |
93 |
Minnesota |
98 |
1-1 |
KeyArena, Seattle, Washington |
2 |
TNT 9:00et |
3 |
April 28 |
Minnesota |
98 |
Seattle |
90 |
1-2 |
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
3 |
TBS 9:30et |
4 |
April 30 |
Minnesota |
88 |
Seattle |
92 |
2-2 |
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
4 |
TBS 9:30et |
5 |
May 2 |
Seattle |
97 |
Minnesota |
84 |
3-2 |
KeyArena, Seattle, Washington |
5 |
NBC 3:30et |
Seattle wins series 3–2
|
See also
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Franchise | |
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Arenas | |
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General managers | |
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G League affiliate | |
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Administration | |
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Division championships (1) | |
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Culture and lore | |
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Retired numbers | |
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