While the Timberwolves were saddled with a difficult schedule early in the season, with a lot of short trips that led to many plane rides and very few nights in their own beds, they’ve been gifted with a number of favorable matchups.

Through 30 games, Minnesota has played just eight games against teams with plus-.500 records. Its current strength of schedule ranks 28th in the NBA, according to basketballreference.com. In those eight games against teams with winning records, the Timberwolves are just 2-6.

That’s part of the reason why it’s been important for Minnesota (17-13) to compile wins while the schedule has been easy, and the reason losses to lesser teams such as Memphis and Phoenix the past two weeks may hurt. The Timberwolves’ schedule will get more difficult. In fact, it’s about to.

Starting with Minnesota’s game against Portland on Monday night, which will wrap up the Wolves’ five-game home stand, five of the next eight games will come against plus-.500 opponents. Three of them will be on the road, and three will come against Northwest Division rivals — Monday’s contest against Portland, then two games against Denver.

Five of Minnesota’s seven remaining games this month are on the road.

BUTLER UPDATE

Jimmy Butler is questionable for Monday’s game against Portland.

Butler suffered a back spasms in the third quarter of Saturday’s game. Butler went back into the locker room, then returned to the game in the fourth quarter after wearing a heat pack and using the exercise bike behind the bench.

He clearly was laboring throughout the remainder of the game, and went 2 for 7 from the field for four points, along with three rebounds and a steal in the final quarter.

“He was in a lot of pain,” Taj Gibson said after the game. “Every time he was trying to move, every time he was trying to cut, he was in a lot of pain. He tried to thug it out being the warrior that he is. Sad we weren’t able to pull it out, even with him getting hurt like that.”

ALDRICH HOSTS FAMILIES

Timberwolves center Cole Aldrich hosted families from the Salvation Army in a Target Center suite Saturday for Minnesota’s home loss to Phoenix as a holiday gift.

It was a twist on what Aldrich did a year ago, when he and his wife, Britt, hosted families for a Christmas dinner. Aldrich said he wanted to do something a little different.

“Not many people get to the games,” Aldrich said, “so I thought that was another cool added thing.”

Aldrich said it was the first trip to a Timberwolves game for one of the families. And he and Britt had time to interact with the families, visiting them all prior to the game. They also bought gifts for the kids, provided food to enjoy and bought Timberwolves gear to give out.

“For us, just having the opportunity to let people into our world of sports (is great),” Aldrich said. “Sports is a huge thing that brings people together. No matter what your race, age, sex, whatever it is, it brings people together, and it’s the holidays and it’s fun to have this event.”