Finding a way to catch Anthony Edwards flying through the air shouldn’t be this hard. Seriously. You’d think in 2026, with all the tech at our fingertips, watching a simple basketball game would be a one-click affair. It isn't. If you’re searching for timberwolves how to watch, you’ve likely realized that the regional sports network (RSN) landscape is a total disaster zone. Between the constant rebranding of Bally Sports (now FanDuel Sports Network in many regions), the weird blackouts on NBA League Pass, and the creeping influence of Amazon Prime, fans in Minnesota and across the country are left scratching their heads.
It’s frustrating.
Basically, your location is the only thing that matters. If you live in the Twin Cities or the surrounding "home" territory, you’re playing by one set of rules. If you’re a Wolves fan living in Seattle or New York, you’re playing by another. Let’s break down the actual, current ways to see this team without losing your mind or your entire paycheck.
The Local Struggle: FanDuel Sports Network and the RSN Trap
For the vast majority of fans living in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Wisconsin, the primary answer to timberwolves how to watch remains the regional sports network. This used to be Bally Sports North. As of late, it’s transitioned under the FanDuel Sports Network banner.
Don't let the name change fool you; the carriage disputes are still a headache.
If you have traditional cable, you’re probably fine—assuming your provider hasn't dropped the channel. Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, and Midco generally carry it, but you have to check your specific tier. Often, it’s tucked away in a "Sports Plus" package that costs an extra fifteen bucks a month. If you’ve cut the cord, your options shrink fast. FuboTV and DIRECTV STREAM are currently the only major "cable-replacement" streaming services that carry the local Wolves broadcasts. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV famously dropped these regional networks years ago and show no signs of bringing them back.
Then there’s the standalone app.
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You can subscribe directly to the FanDuel Sports Network app (formerly Bally Sports+). It’s pricey—usually around $20 a month. It’s a bitter pill to swallow just to watch one team, but if you don't want a full $90 cable package, it’s the most direct path. Honestly, the app interface has been buggy in the past. Fans constantly complain about lags during the fourth quarter of tight games against the Nuggets or Mavs. It’s not perfect, but it’s the local reality.
The League Pass Blackout Problem
NBA League Pass is a godsend for out-of-market fans. If you live in California and want to watch every Wolves game, League Pass is incredible. You get the home and away feeds, no commercials sometimes (just the arena entertainment), and high-def streaming.
But there’s a massive catch.
If a game is on "national TV"—meaning ESPN, TNT, or ABC—it won't be live on League Pass. You have to wait three days to watch the archive. Even worse, if you live in the Minnesota market, League Pass will black out every single Wolves game live because the local RSN owns those rights. This is the #1 thing that trips people up. They buy League Pass thinking they’ve solved the timberwolves how to watch puzzle, only to see a "This content is not available in your area" screen on game night.
Always check your zip code on the NBA website before buying. If you’re "in-market," League Pass is useless for live Wolves games unless you're using a VPN, which is a whole different legal and technical rabbit hole that most casual fans don't want to deal with.
National Television and the Amazon Factor
The Wolves are good now. Like, really good. That means they are getting flexed into national spots more than ever before.
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When the Wolves play on TNT, you need Max (formerly HBO Max) or a cable login. When they’re on ESPN, you need the ESPN app or a live TV streamer. One thing to watch closely this season is the shift toward Amazon Prime Video. The NBA’s new media rights deal is changing the landscape, and more games are migrating to Prime.
Quick Checklist for National Games:
- TNT Games: Available on Max or cable.
- ESPN/ABC Games: Available on ESPN+ (sometimes) or via cable/satellite.
- NBA TV: This is a "linear" channel. If you have League Pass, you usually get NBA TV, but if the game is on NBA TV, it’s still subject to local blackouts.
It's a "patchwork" system. You might need three different apps to see 82 games. That sucks, but that’s the current state of professional sports broadcasting.
What About "Alternative" Viewing Methods?
We’ve all seen the links on Twitter or Reddit. "Free stream here!"
Look, strictly speaking, those sites are a minefield of malware and "Hot Singles In Your Area" ads. They’re unreliable. They cut out right when Naz Reid is about to hit a game-winner. While many fans resort to these out of frustration with the RSN system, the experience is objectively terrible compared to a legitimate stream.
If you’re truly desperate and can’t afford the $20/month for the local app, some bars and restaurants in the Twin Cities area make "Wolves Night" a priority. Places like Tom’s Watch Bar or local spots in Northeast Minneapolis almost always have the game on. Sometimes, the best way to watch is with a crowd and a basket of wings anyway.
Antenna Users: Are You Out of Luck?
For a while, there was talk about the Wolves moving games to over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV, similar to what the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz did. The Suns moved to a local independent station, allowing anyone with a $20 digital antenna to watch for free.
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The Wolves haven't fully committed to that model yet.
While a few games might show up on local channels (like KARE 11 or similar affiliates) depending on specific deals, the vast majority are still locked behind the FanDuel Sports Network paywall. Don't buy an antenna specifically for the Wolves quite yet, though it's great for the games that occasionally land on ABC.
Summary of the Best Approaches
To settle the timberwolves how to watch debate for your specific situation, follow this logic:
- Live in MN and want everything? Get DIRECTV STREAM or FuboTV. It's the most "complete" but most expensive.
- Live in MN and want the cheapest legal way? Subscribe to the FanDuel Sports Network standalone app for the local games and use an antenna for ABC games.
- Live outside MN? Get NBA League Pass. It's a no-brainer. You'll get roughly 70+ games live.
- Just want the big games? A basic subscription to a service that carries ESPN and TNT (like Sling TV Orange) will get you the "prestige" matchups.
The reality of sports media is shifting toward fragmentation. We are moving away from the "one big cable box" era and into an era where you might need to subscribe and unsubscribe to various apps throughout the season. It's annoying, but keeping track of the schedule—specifically which games are "National" vs. "Local"—will save you from paying for services you don't need.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Zip Code: Go to the NBA League Pass website and use their blackout checker tool. This is the definitive way to know if you are considered "in-market."
- Audit your Apps: See if your current cell phone plan or internet provider offers "on us" subscriptions. Sometimes T-Mobile or Verizon covers things like Max or ESPN+, which handles the national games.
- Download the Schedule: Get the official Timberwolves schedule and highlight the TNT/ESPN games. Those are the ones where your local RSN app won't work, so you'll need an alternative for those specific nights.
- Monitor the FanDuel Sports Network (Bally) situation: The company has been in and out of bankruptcy proceedings. Check for any mid-season announcements regarding a shift to Amazon or local broadcast channels, as this could change your subscription needs overnight.