The AP reports: The Charlotte Bobcats nearly blew an 18-point lead, missed key free throws and had a strategy decision backfire. The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back behind their new star, only to have a key turnover and a missed shot at the buzzer… Behind Jason Richardson’s 36 points and some good fortune down the stretch, the Bobcats overcame their near collapse and a big night from Al Jefferson to hold off the Timberwolves, 121-119… Jefferson matched a career high with 40 points and had a chance to force overtime, but his open 19-footer bounced off the rim as time expired… Raymond Felton, who had 15 points and 11 assists, missed two free throws with 13 seconds and Charlotte leading 120-119. After Foye’s turnover, Matt Carroll, who scored 22 points, hit his first free throw, but Vincent told him to intentionally miss the second with 1 second left.
Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog
Timberwolves blog – Minnesota Timberwolves blog
Jobs Kevin Garnett had as a kid
The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Kevin Garnett’s résumé has a lot more than pro basketball player on it. Garnett worked at Burger King, manned a cash register at a restaurant called Cheers, worked at an Ingles Markets grocery store, and mowed lawns while growing up in South Carolina. He mopped gym floors at a Boys’ and Girls’ Club his senior year in high school in Chicago. But of all the jobs he has held – including playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves – he says his current gig with the Celtics is the least taxing. “Since I’ve been 14, I’ve probably had seven jobs, and since I’ve been working, this is the most rest I’ve ever had in my life,” said the Celtics forward yesterday. “It’s so much that I don’t know what to do with myself. It’s coming at a great time. “You put your heart and soul in this. I’m staying afloat being a vet, being a leader. It’s been good. It’s coming at the right time for this team.”
Apr. 6: Grizzlies 113, Wolves 101
The AP reports: Mike Miller scored 34 points and hit a season-high eight 3-pointers to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 113-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Rudy Gay added 23 points for Memphis and Hakim Warrick had 20 as the Grizzlies sent the Wolves to their fourth straight loss and sixth in the last seven… Ryan Gomes led Minnesota with 19 points and Al Jefferson had 18.
Apr. 4: Suns 117, Wolves 88
The AP reports: Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists, then sat out the final quarter Friday night while the Suns completed a 117-88 rout of the Timberwolves. Amare Stoudemire had 24 points in 28 minutes as five Suns reached double figures. Grant Hill, out for the previous three games with a strained right groin, had 16 points and 10 rebounds… Raja Bell added 15 points and Leandro Barbosa 11 for the Suns… Al Jefferson scored 20 on 11-of-26 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who fell to an NBA-worst 5-32 on the road. The Timberwolves shot 38 percent.
Apr. 2: Jazz 117, Wolves 100
The AP reports: Mehmet Okur made four 3-pointers and scored 22 points, leading the Jazz to a 117-100 win over Minnesota. He scored 19 of points and made three 3-pointers in the second half… Okur credited guard Deron Williams for Utah’s stellar play in the second half. The Jazz scored 38 points in the third quarter and shot 62 percent from the field after the break. Williams had 19 points and 14 assists for his 49th double-double of the season… Utah won for the 24th time in 25 home games and improved to 34-4 at EnergySolutions Arena this season… Marko Jaric led Minnesota with 18 points and eight rebounds. Reserve Rashad McCants had 17 points.
Apr. 1: Pistons 94, Wolves 90
The AP reports: As Chauncey Billups has done so many times before in a Detroit uniform, Rodney Stuckey did much of his damage when his team needed him most, scoring 12 of his career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Pistons to a 94-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night… “I’ve always said he’s one of those guys, the bigger the game, the bigger the situation, the more responsibility he has and he wants,” said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who gave Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton the night off to rest up for the playoffs. .. Al Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds, but only managed 12 shots while being hounded by double- and triple-teams all night. Foye scored 18 points, but was just 6-for-14 from the field, committed a costly turnover in the closing minutes and rushed an off-balance shot out of a timeout with 45 seconds to go to seal the loss.
Wolves learning to compete in fourth quarter
The Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jerry Zgoda) reports: The Wolves lost eight of the first 13 times they led going into the fourth quarter this season. They now have won the past four games in which they led after three quarters and are 10-4 in that category since winning at Golden State on Jan. 21, the demarcation line in a season they started 5-34. “We’ve grown up,” Wolves center Al Jefferson said. They won seven games in March, are 14-19 since that Jan. 21 game, and Sunday’s victory was their second over the Jazz at home in five weeks. “We’re getting better and better,” Jefferson said. “To win like this two times in a row over them at home says a lot.”
Mar. 30: Wolves 110, Jazz 103
The AP reports: Al Jefferson had 22 points and eight rebounds and Rashad McCants scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half of Minnesota’s 110-103 victory Sunday over a Utah team that just can’t seem to win on the road. Corey Brewer tied a career high with 16 points and had seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have now beaten the Jazz at home twice this season, losses that are inexcusable for a team that hopes to contend for the Western Conference crown. Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the short-handed Jazz, who are nearly unbeatable at home but just 16-22 on the road this year… Deron Williams had 15 points and 13 assists, but was pretty quiet from a scoring standpoint after getting seven points in the first 5 minutes.
Mar. 28: Spurs 99, Wolves 84
The AP reports: Manu Ginobili scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs picked up their sixth straight win with a 99-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday… Tony Parker added 18 points for the Spurs and Tim Duncan had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Ryan Gomes led the Timberwolves with 17 points and Al Jefferson added 14. Reserve Rashad McCants scored 13. Michael Finley, who is averaging better than 18 points in his last three games, joined the Spurs’ Big Three, scoring 16.
Mar. 26: Rockets 97, Wolves 86
The AP reports: Tracy McGrady scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Luis Scola had 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the Rockets’ 97-86 victory Wednesday night… McGrady also had 11 rebounds and nine assists to help the Rockets keep pace in the tight Western Conference race… The Rockets outrebounded the Wolves 58-38 and scored 14 second-chance points to win for the 19th time in their last 21 home games. Al Jefferson had 21 and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which had won four of its last six games… The Rockets have won 29 of their last 33 games.