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October/November (9-8)
The Wolves added four newcomers — Kendall Gill, Troy Hudson, Rod Strickland and rookie Igor Rakocevic — and welcomed back Reggie Slater. After opening the season with wins over Denver and Orlando, Minnesota lost games at Indiana and New Jersey, then posted a win over Washington. The Wolves then pulled out a four-point win over Milwaukee at Target Center. Kevin Garnett scored 28 points and tied a career high with 24 rebounds, and Wally Szczerbiak's return to the lineup helped spark the Timberwolves to a 114-110 victory. Two days later, Minnesota lost its first home game of the season, to Boston, 105-99. After losing games in San Antonio and New Orleans, the Wolves won their first road game of the season, in Memphis. Kevin Garnett tallied 28 points and Wally Szczerbiak drilled a key 3-pointer in the closing seconds as the Timberwolves spoiled Hubie Brown's coaching return with a 99-95 victory at The Pyramid. The Wolves finished out the month 4-3, posting victories over Memphis, Atlanta, New York, and Sacramento, and losses to Indiana, New Jersey and Utah.

Troy Hudson led the Wolves in assists 32 times during the regular season. David Sherman, NBAE/Getty Images

December (8-6, 17-14 overall)
The Wolves started December continuing their six-game West Coast swing — the longest road trip of the season — with a win over the Lakers. Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Anthony Peeler tallied 17 points as the Wolves won in L.A. for the first time in nine years with a 110-107 victory at Staples Center. The Wolves then traded wins and losses for the rest of the trip, falling by 12 at Sacramento, winning by 16 at Golden State, losing by 16 at the Clippers and rounding out the road trip with an eight-point win in Denver. After returning home with an 18-point win over Atlanta, the Wolves then lost to Portland in overtime, 98-92. Minnesota finished its three-game homestand with another victory over the Lakers. Kevin Garnett's 23 points led six Timberwolves in double figures, and Minnesota used a big first half to subdue Los Angeles, 96-80. With losses at Philadelphia (by five) and Boston (by 11), the Wolves welcomed their return home by beating Houston, 98-86. Garnett scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half to help the Timberwolves repel Houston's comeback bid. Minnesota then posted a 13-point victory in Chicago before suffering a loss in Detroit the following night, 106-82. The Wolves finished out the calendar year at home with a win over Phoenix. Garnett tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds and the Timberwolves withstood a 38-point barrage from rookie Amare Stoudemire to hand Phoenix a 104-98 setback.

Wally Szczerbiak returned to the lineup on Jan. 10 after missing 30 of the previous 34 games due to a dislocated left toe. David Sherman, NBAE/Getty Images

January (10-6, 27-20 overall)
Minnesota began the month of January with two losses, at home to Utah and on the road in Houston. The Wolves returned to Target Center to post victories over Golden State and Sacramento. Against the Kings, Joe Smith tallied a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevin Garnett added 24 points and 15 boards in a 115-109 win in overtime. After a loss in Toronto and a victory over Denver at Target Center, Minnesota headed west for a three-game trip. A 95-64 win against the Clippers was the Wolves' largest margin of victory of the season and the biggest road win in team history. The Wolves then dropped a game against Golden State before winning a close game in Portland to end the trip 2-1. The Wolves won all three games in a three-game homestand, vs. the Raptors, Sonics and Clippers. Los Angeles led by as many as 16 points before the Wolves rallied for a three-point win. The Wolves followed that with another comeback victory the next night, winning after the Wizards led by 15 at halftime. An 11-point home win against the Spurs wrapped up the Wolves' first six-game winning streak of the season. Traveling to Texas, the Wolves were handed a loss at the hands of Dallas, 112-109. Minnesota led at the half and took an 11-point lead early in the third quarter, and Dallas responded with a 19-1 run. Minnesota went on an 18-3 stretch of its own, but Dallas sealed the victory with four free throws. Minnesota rounded out its trip to the Lone Star state with another loss, to Houston.

Kevin Garnett was named MVP of the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. Jennifer Pottheiser, NBAE/Getty Images

February (12-1, 39-21)
Minnesota won 12 of its 13 February starts to set a franchise record for winning percentage in a month, bettering its 12-3 mark from January 2000. The Wolves' 12-1 record was also the NBA's best for February. Minnesota started the month red hot, posting wins over Philadelphia and Houston before sending Kevin Garnett to the 52nd NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. Garnett was named the game's Most Valuable Player, scoring 37 points with nine rebounds and five steals in the West's 155-145 double-OT victory. The Wolves returned to triumph over Dallas, Cleveland, New Orleans, and Golden State for their second six-game winning streak. Minnesota's lone loss in February came by way of Utah at the Delta Center. Notching a win in Denver, the Wolves returned home to beat Detroit and Phoenix. Against the Suns, Wally Szczerbiak pumped in 30 points and the Wolves held on for a 99-97 victory. Minnesota posted yet another win in Milwaukee, beating the Bucks 117-114. Garnett had 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Timberwolves spoiled Gary Payton's home debut and defeated Milwaukee for the eighth consecutive time. The Wolves closed out the month with victories over Utah and Cleveland at Target Center. For his outstanding play during February, Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month (the third such honor of his career) by averaging 27.7 ppg, 13.9 rpg, and 5.8 apg. Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in February (the third such award of his career).

Anthony Peeler scored 23 points in the Wolves' win in San Antonio on March 21. D. Clarke Evans, NBAE/Getty Images

March (7-8, 46-29)
Minnesota rounded out its season-high seven-game winning streak with a win over New York. It was the 17th straight win at Target Center, extending its club record as well as the longest home winning streak in the NBA this season. Headed out West for a five-game road trip, the Wolves lost their first three games against Seattle, Sacramento (in overtime) and the Lakers. Minnesota ended the trip with wins in Phoenix and Dallas. In the Mavericks game, Kevin Garnett tallied 31 points and 18 rebounds, and Wally Szczerbiak scored 14 of his 27 points in the final six minutes to lift the Timberwolves to a 92-83 victory. After losing two games at home, to San Antonio and the Lakers, the Wolves faced Portland at Target Center. Kevin Garnett had his fifth triple-double of the season and Wally Szczerbiak sank five second-half three-pointers to lift the Timberwolves to a 111-95 victory over the Trail Blazers. Minnesota ended its four-game homestand with a win over Memphis, then traveled to San Antonio. The Spurs led by as many as 14 points, but the Wolves took their first lead of the game with under a minute to play. With the clock winding down, Stephen Jackson hit a three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation, but the Wolves came on strong in overtime and won by seven. After starting a three-game swing vs. the Florida teams with a home win over Miami, the Wolves lost in Orlando and Miami. The Mavericks then handed the Timberwolves their third straight loss, 119-95 at Target Center.

Rasho Nesterovic averaged a career-high 11.2 points per game in 2002-03. Jeff Reinking, NBAE/Getty Images

April (5-2, 51-31)
The Wolves opened up April with a win over Seattle, ending a three-game losing streak. Troy Hudson poured in a season-high 31 points as Minnesota held off the Sonics, 91-86, at Target Center. After losing the first of a three-game West Coast swing to Phoenix, the Wolves won in Portland. Kevin Garnett compiled his sixth triple-double of the season — the NBA's high during 2002-03 — and Minnesota pulled away late for a 97-78 victory at the Rose Garden. The Wolves closed out their road trip with a loss in Seattle, but returned to Target Center with a victory over the Clippers. In the final regular season home game, Wally Szczerbiak exploded for a career-high 44 points — tying Tony Campbell's 13-year-old franchise record — as the Timberwolves handed Chicago a 119-95 setback. The Wolves ended their home schedule with a 33-8 record, setting a franchise record for home wins and ranking second in the NBA. A victory in Memphis to end the regular season gave Minnesota win number 51, a new single-season club record. The Wolves finished fourth in the Western Conference, another franchise high, and entered the playoffs against the No. 5 seed L.A. Lakers. Garnett earned his second Western Conference Player of the Month award of the season.