10 Victories by the Wolves, which means they are no longer on the lowest NBA rung; Miami has nine victories.
Wolves record: 10-36
After falling behind by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, the
Timberwolves swarmed a short-handed L.A. team like a hungry pack of
mosquitoes in beating the Clippers 104-83 Friday night at Target Center
for their fourth straight win at home.
Timberwolves swarmed a short-handed L.A. team like a hungry pack of
mosquitoes in beating the Clippers 104-83 Friday night at Target Center
for their fourth straight win at home.
If you’re looking for stats, check this one: After L.A. scored the first four points of the second half to take a 60-52 lead, Minnesota leaped and bounded its way through a 45-15 run that made it 97-75 with roughly five minutes to go in the game.
Behind Jefferson’s surge – 12 points in the second
quarter – the Wolves went into halftime down just 56-52. He almost
single-handedly put them in position for a big second half. The Wolves
outscored the Clippers 31-15 in the third quarter and cruised the rest
of the way.
quarter – the Wolves went into halftime down just 56-52. He almost
single-handedly put them in position for a big second half. The Wolves
outscored the Clippers 31-15 in the third quarter and cruised the rest
of the way.
"They got a big stud in Al Jefferson, so they got
something to work with," said Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, who was
part of Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference finals during the
2003-04 season. "If this organization can just put some people around
that guy, it will make it easy for him. He’s a big bag of chips."
something to work with," said Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, who was
part of Minnesota’s run to the Western Conference finals during the
2003-04 season. "If this organization can just put some people around
that guy, it will make it easy for him. He’s a big bag of chips."
The Wolves’ collective confidence is growing. After the game coach
Randy Wittman asked the rhetorical question: What would the Wolves of a
month ago have done after getting down 15 midway through the second
quarter of a game?
Randy Wittman asked the rhetorical question: What would the Wolves of a
month ago have done after getting down 15 midway through the second
quarter of a game?
Not this: Come back for their biggest margin of victory all season.
Most of the credit for the win will be given to the top scorers for the Timberwolves, namely Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Rashad McCants and Craig Smith. Yet, the true MVP of this game for Minnesota was Marko Jaric. After Sam Cassell torched his former team for 13 first quarter points, mostly on Sebastian Telfair, Jaric was easily the best point guard on the floor for the final three quarters.