Here we go again, Timberwolves fans.

What's happening: The Wolves season starts tonight and a group of young and talented players are entering their second year together. Hopes are once again high that the team will make the playoffs for just the second time since 2004.

• Stop us if you've heard this one before.

What's new: Almost nothing. After a couple years of shuffling the roster, every significant player from last year's team returns except for Ricky Rubio, who was traded in a salary dump.

• Point guard Patrick Beverley and forward Taurean Prince joined the team as likely role players.

What's promising: Karl-Anthony Towns is finally able to focus on basketball after the death of his mother due to COVID. Reports say he looks like a man on a mission.

• Plus, Anthony Edwards could build upon his promising rookie season, and head coach Chris Finch has drawn rave reviews after taking over midway through last season.

What's concerning: This same group of players was one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last year.

• The roster lacks front court talent outside of Towns. And, more broadly, this is the Timberwolves. Anything that can go wrong usually does.

The experts: NBA geeks have the Wolves on the fringe of the playoffs, which includes 10 teams from each conference this year. The last four compete in a play-in tournament.

• FiveThirtyEight gives them a 40% chance of making the postseason
• Zach Harper at The Athletic says the "play-in tournament has to be in reach."
• ESPN is forecasting 31-51, which would likely keep them out of the playoffs.

The intrigue: Towns spoke before the season about how chaotic his first six years in the league have been. He's had five head coaches, six general managers and an unstable roster of teammates.

• If things go sideways again this year, you have to wonder if it's time for the Wolves and Towns to part ways, which would begin another rebuild. Sigh.

Tune in: The Wolves host the Rockets at 7pm tonight, with Bally Sports North broadcasting on TV. Tickets were still available, as of last night.

✈️ Sun Country is adding nonstop service from from MSP to Buffalo, New York; Burlington, Vermont; Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Florida; Pittsburgh; Spokane, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia. (KARE 11)

🚐 Rochester is testing a free self-driving shuttle program, but concerns about crashes and rough winters could delay progress. (Minnesota Reformer)

❌ U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says she'll vote against the Minneapolis public safety charter amendment. (Star Tribune)

📉 COVID-19 cases are ebbing in Minnesota, and there's hope that the latest surge might be coming to an end. (MPR News)

🍦 Bloomington-based Dairy Queen is suing a Massachusetts company for using the "Blizzard" name for bottled water. (Star Tribune)

Live music is in full swing. We found five upcoming shows you should know about, from the ultra-famous to the underground.

Of note: Most venues require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, and some shows may require masks.

Favorite Anime Themes — Oct. 21 and 29 at Granada Theater ($50)

• This string quartet performs scores from popular anime series like "Sailor Moon," "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" and "Death Note" in an intimate candlelight setting.
• Song of choice: "Light's Theme D" from "Death Note" (The tension!)

The Rolling Stones — Oct. 24 at U.S. Bank Stadium ($66-$496)

• The rock legends return to Minneapolis after six years for their No Filter tour. What local dive bar will Mick Jagger hang at?
• Song of choice: Do you really need one?

Zach Bryan — Nov. 8 at the Fillmore ($30)

• If you missed his set at September's Basilica Block Party, here’s a second chance to catch the country singer-songwriter.
• Song of choice: "Revival." Watch the crowd at the last Fillmore show sing most of the words for him.

CHVRCHES — Nov. 17 at The Armory ($43-$150)

• The Scottish synth-pop trio, who are "not remotely religious," tour their latest album "Screen Violence," with opener Donna Missal.
• Song of choice: "California"

Longshot and Lazerbeak — Nov. 26 at 7th Street Entry ($15)

• Minneapolis-via-Chicago rapper Chad Heslup and Minneapolis producer Aaron Mader team up for a release party of their sophomore collaborative album "Spread Love."
• Song of choice: "Parades," from their first album of the same name.

More than 34,000 people are expected to pass through security checkpoints at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Thursday, with nearly as many expected today.

• That compares with just 17,400 on the busiest day during last year's Minnesota Educator Academy (MEA) weekend, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Yes, but: It's still down from pre-pandemic times.

• In 2009, 47,000 passengers boarded flights on the busiest day of MEA weekend,

Eden Prairie Center got its 15 minutes of fame on this day in 1995, as the movie "Mallrats," filmed at the southwest metro shopping center, was released in theaters.

Flashback: Fresh off his debut hit "Clerks," director Kevin Smith chose Minnesota — which offered filmmakers robust tax credits in the 1990s — to film the comedy about college-aged Jeremy London and Jason Lee trying to get their girlfriends back.

• It was also one of Ben Affleck's first movies.

The film flopped, but eventually built a cult following.

Fast forward: During the pandemic, Smith wrote a sequel, “Twilight of the Mallrats,” which he described to Entertainment Weekly as taking place 25 years after the original. It features "the entire cast, [and] a new cast of characters as well. It's about Brodie (Lee) and his daughter and the death of the mall."

• It's not clear where the movie will be filmed. Note to producers: Eden Prairie Center is still alive and welcomed a massive new Scheels sporting goods store last year.