The extended break of the All-Star Game should enable the return of Tyus Jones (at New York on Friday), and Robert Covington (still without an official timetable). Two essential pieces to compete with the mid/high-level teams below the group at the top dissected in part 1.

2ND TIER (OKC x2, Sixers, Houston, Jazz, Pacers, Blazers, Clippers, Kings)

The Thunder have been historically a nice matchup for the Wolves. Is well known how Wiggins feels these games, also on the defensive end.

Minnesota can match OKC’s interior scoring and rebounding rate. Paul George ramping up as a facilitator and for efficiency from the perimeter can be more problematic than the previous two games, plus, their bench is improved.

Sixers and Rockets (considering the Rockets with Capela and CP3 at full capacity) have two of the best ten on-ball creators of the league. Simmons scored 10 points off transition, he dunked 5 times and made every shot attempted in the restricted area in his first game to the Wolves this season. He’s not such a threat as Harden is from the perimeter, but he’s more difficult to guard for the Wolves guards for his size combined with his solid post up game and his ability to grab offensive rebounds.

Even with the season-ending injury of Oladipo, the Pacers are still running a good offense, and they keep on winning games. Bogdanovic is playing at a barely all-star level in the last 7 matches. Over this stretch, the Pacers are 6-1 and they had a 98.1 defensive rating, it will not be an easy walk.

With the Kings and the Clips, the playoff contention for that last spot is real. Sacramento got multiple terrific options on full court offense and without Covington – who’ll likely be still recovering when the Wolves will play against the Kings next Monday – trying to keep them out of their up-tempo mode will be tough.

The Clips are significantly diminished without Harris and Marjanovic, Towns dominated in the paint, Clips rim protection has been downsized too.

On paper at least, they shouldn’t be more talented than the Timberwolves.

3RD TIER (Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, Detroit, Washington x2, Atlanta, Memphis, New York x2)

Among the remaining 10 opponents below .500, just the Knicks and the Hawks have a critical worse record than the Wolves and may be considered underdogs against Minnesota.

Dallas, Miami, Detroit and Washington would be on the third-tier of winning percentage and they almost have the same record of Minnesota.