The AP reports: Al Jefferson scored six of his 25 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to lift Minnesota to a 102-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, snapping an eight-game losing streak… Elton Brand had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia, which committed 16 turnovers and missed eight free throws while losing for the first time in four games… Craig Smith scored a season-high 21 points and matched a career best with five assists, and Mike Miller had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Wolves, who won for the first time since the season opener against Sacramento… Andre Miller finished with 20 points and six assists.
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Nov 16: Nuggets 90, Wolves 84
The AP reports: Chauncey Billups scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had eight of his 14 points in a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and the Denver Nuggets overcame poor shooting to hand Minnesota its eighth straight loss, 90-84 on Sunday night. Carmelo Anthony added 14 points and 12 rebounds to help Denver improve to 5-1 since the Nuggets acquired Billups in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to Detroit. Al Jefferson had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Randy Foye added 18 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves haven’t won since beating Sacramento in their opener… The Nuggets won despite a poor shooting night from Billups and Anthony, who were a combined 11-for-40 from the field.
Nov 15: Blazers 88, Wolves 83
The AP reports: Watch out NBA, Greg Oden is starting to clear the cobwebs from two injuries, giving Brandon Roy a monster presence down low for the young Portland Trail Blazers. Playing the first back-to-back of his career, the former No. 1 draft pick followed his first double-double with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes. Roy then closed things out in the Blazers’ 88-83 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night… Roy, who was originally chosen by the Timberwolves but traded for Randy Foye on draft night, scored 24 points for the Blazers, including a driving layup and a fast-break dunk in the closing minute that gave them the lead for good… Al Jefferson had 26 points and six rebounds for the Timberwolves (1-7), who have lost seven in a row since an opening night victory over Sacramento.
Nov 11: Warriors 113, Wolves 110 OT
The AP reports: Stephen Jackson tied the game late in regulation and scored six of his 30 points in overtime, leading the Golden State Warriors back from a poor fourth quarter to beat the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves 113-110 on Tuesday night. Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 2:16 left in the extra session and the Warriors sent the Timberwolves to their sixth straight loss… Al Jefferson had 25 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which seemed in control when it led by 10 with 7:06 left. The Timberwolves missed their first five shots in overtime before Randy Foye’s basket with 1:07 to play… Golden State’s Andris Biedrins finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out in overtime, recording his 15th straight double-double dating back to April. Kelenna Azubuike added 22 points and eight rebounds. Azubuike’s two free throws at the 1:21 of regulation got Golden State within 106-104.
Kevin Love hit with rookie hazing
The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Don Seeholzer) reports: As the Wolves’ only rookie, Kevin Love was forced to sing happy birthday to forward Craig Smith in front of the entire team after practice Monday. Let’s just say his voice never will be confused with that of his famous uncle Mike of the Beach Boys. “He has no singing voice, no rhythm at all,” Wittman cracked. “It’s hard to believe that he’s got a relative that seemed to have that.” Love, in his defense, said happy birthday isn’t his song and that he would have nailed the Star-Spangled Banner. Asked if that was his first and last singing gig, he said: “No, I’m going to have to do it again. They’re going to make me dance, too, so I’ve got to figure out what new flavor I’m going to bring next time.”
Nov 8: Blazers 97, Wolves 93
The AP reports: LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Brandon Roy added 24 points and nine assists and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-93 on Saturday night to improve to 3-0 at home. Al Jefferson finished with 27 points after starting off 3-for-10 from the field for Minnesota in its fifth straight loss. Mike Miller had 14 points and six assists… Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez each had 11 points for Portland. Randy Foye had 11 for Minnesota, and Craig Smith added 10.
Nov 7: Kings 121, Wolves 109
The AP reports: Kevin Martin decided to play and scored 26 points, and the Kings welcomed back starting center Brad Miller and never trailed in a 121-109 victory Friday night. Martin said he told Kings coach Reggie Theus he wouldn’t be playing following the morning shootaround. Still, Martin proved as difficult to stop as normal, shooting 9-of-23 from the field, 6-of-7 from the free throw line and adding five rebounds… John Salmons scored 23 points for the Kings, Beno Udrih had 15 and Spencer Hawes 13. Mikki Moore had 12 points and Miller contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks… So did Kevin Love, who had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves in his first NBA start, yet couldn’t stop the Timberwolves from dropping their fourth straight game… Mike Miller scored 16 points, Sebastian Telfair had 15 and seven assists, while Al Jefferson had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Kevin Love may start soon
The St. Paul Pioneer Press (Don Seeholzer) reports: Kevin Love’s days of coming off the bench might be nearing an end. The Timberwolves rookie forward played 15 more minutes than starting power forward Ryan Gomes Wednesday night in the Wolves’ 129-125 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Love scored 14 points in 37 minutes. That’s the most extensive playing time yet for Love, who was matched against Spurs star Tim Duncan for much of the night and held his own, blocking three shots and grabbing nine rebounds.
Nov 5: Spurs 129, Wolves 125 2OT
The AP reports: Tony Parker scored a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime, in San Antonio’s 129-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night… Al Jefferson, who had 30 points and 14 rebounds, paused to sit on the scorer’s table before play resumed and just shook his head as if to say, “What more can we do?” … Mike Miller had 12 of his 25 points in the first quarter for Minnesota, which held a nine-point lead twice but lost its edge late in the third while the Spurs closed with a 26-14 run… “I saw it in his eyes, man. I could tell,” said teammate Roger Mason (about Parker), who had 26 points… Parker was 22-of-36 from the field and added 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Nov 2: Thunder 88, Wolves 85
The AP reports: Russell Westbrook sparked a comeback with back-to-back steals on the defensive end and then scored the go-ahead basket for the last of his 14 points as the Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 88-85 Sunday night for their first victory in their new home… Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 18 points despite a 7-for-21 shooting night. Green added 13 points, Chris Wilcox scored 12 off the bench and Collison had 10 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Minnesota’s Al Jefferson had 24 points and 13 rebounds for his third straight double-double to start the season, but the Thunder clamped down late on him. Craig Smith added 13 points, Gomes scored 12 and Mike Miller had 10… Foye was 0-for-10 and had his only two points on free throws.