Sunday Night’s Recap
Phoenix 120, Minnesota 112: In the team’s first road game of the 2009-10 campaign, the Wolves dropped a 120-112 decision to the Phoenix Suns at U.S. Airways Center. Despite falling down by 17 points in the fourth quarter, the scrappy Wolves fought back, trimming the Suns lead to as little as five points on a Ryan Hollins 15-foot jumper with 3:13 remaining. However, on the next possession, Grant Hill answered with a three-pointer pushing the Suns lead back to eight points and the Wolves could not get any closer. Ryan Gomes led the way with season-highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds. Al Jefferson added 21 points and Corey Brewer scored a career high with 19 points. All five Phoenix starters scored in double figured topped by Channing Fry’s 25 points. Minnesota is now 1-2 on the season.
Leader of the Pack: Wolves point guard Jonny Flynn entered last night’s game leading all rookies in scoring with 17.5 ppg. The 6-0 guard led the Wolves in scoring in the first two games with 18 points (13 points in the fourth quarter) and 17 points respectively. His 35-point two-game total to start his career is the second-most by a Wolves rookie. Donyell Marshall had 38 points in his first two games to start the 1994-95 campaign. Flynn finshed with 11 points vs. Phoenix.
Big Al: Entering last night’s game, Al Jefferson has feasted on the Suns since joining the Wolves. In the six games he has played against Phoenix as a member of the Wolves, Big Al has posted averages of 28.7 points and 15 rebounds. Jefferson finished with a season-high 21 points and 8 rebounds in last night’s game.
Monday’s Game: Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m. – FSN/KFAN-AM: The Timberwolves wrap up their brief two-game road trip tonight at STAPLES Center as they battle the L.A. Clippers beginning at 9:30 p.m. Minnesota won last year’s season series by a 2-1 count, with both wins coming in Los Angeles. In the all-time series, the Wolves hold a 43-35 advantage and are 17-22 in Los Angeles. There will be a couple of familiar faces on the Clippers roster as Minnesota goes against former teammates Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair, who were traded to the Clippers during the summer.
