Down 14 at halftime, that’s what his Timberwolves – and make no
mistake, these are Jefferson’s Timberwolves now – needed. And "Big Al”
delivered with 22 of his 29 points in the second half of a 98-94
victory over lowly Memphis on Tuesday night.
mistake, these are Jefferson’s Timberwolves now – needed. And "Big Al”
delivered with 22 of his 29 points in the second half of a 98-94
victory over lowly Memphis on Tuesday night.
If the Grizzlies were playing any defense in the second half, Jefferson certainly didn’t see it.
"Tonight was one of them nights where I just didn’t see no defense,”
Jefferson said. "I was in that type of zone. Nobody could get in front
of me.”
Wolves record: 17-50
At halftime, Jefferson had nine points and six boards. He finished with
29 and 13, and set the Wolves franchise mark for offensive rebounds
(273) thanks to five off the offensive window in the second half.
Meanwhile, Randy Foye contributed his first double-double (12 points,
10 boards) of the season and Ryan Gomes overcame a tough shooting night
(2-of-12) with a huge shot with 52 seconds left in the contest to help
secure Minnesota’s fifth win in seven games.
29 and 13, and set the Wolves franchise mark for offensive rebounds
(273) thanks to five off the offensive window in the second half.
Meanwhile, Randy Foye contributed his first double-double (12 points,
10 boards) of the season and Ryan Gomes overcame a tough shooting night
(2-of-12) with a huge shot with 52 seconds left in the contest to help
secure Minnesota’s fifth win in seven games.
The Timberwolves were 7-31 when they scored under 100 points. They have now won two sub-100 point games in a row.
Trailing 52-38 at halftime, the Wolves used a 12-0
run to get back in the game in the third quarter. The Grizzlies led
54-40 but then Minnesota seized the momentum. Al Jefferson scored on a
nifty spin move down low and then Randy Foye hit a three-pointer,
cutting the gap to 54-52 with 7:48 remaining.
run to get back in the game in the third quarter. The Grizzlies led
54-40 but then Minnesota seized the momentum. Al Jefferson scored on a
nifty spin move down low and then Randy Foye hit a three-pointer,
cutting the gap to 54-52 with 7:48 remaining.
They stayed close to the Grizzlies in the third —
even tying the score at 57-57 with about 4 minutes remaining — but
couldn’t take the lead. Jefferson did much of the work, scoring 12
points in the quarter while grabbing five rebounds.
even tying the score at 57-57 with about 4 minutes remaining — but
couldn’t take the lead. Jefferson did much of the work, scoring 12
points in the quarter while grabbing five rebounds.
With their 17th victory of the season and their fifth in the last seven
games, the Wolves moved past the Grizzlies and Seattle in the NBA
standings, and for the moment own an 11.9 percent chance at the No. 1
overall pick in this summer’s draft.
games, the Wolves moved past the Grizzlies and Seattle in the NBA
standings, and for the moment own an 11.9 percent chance at the No. 1
overall pick in this summer’s draft.
They trailed by 16 points twice in the first half’s final 70 seconds,
but reversed course with a 14-2 burst that started the third quarter
and produced their biggest comeback from a halftime deficit (14 points)
since they trailed the Lakers by 15 in Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2005.
but reversed course with a 14-2 burst that started the third quarter
and produced their biggest comeback from a halftime deficit (14 points)
since they trailed the Lakers by 15 in Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2005.
273 The new franchise record for offensive rebounds in a season, reached Wednesday by big Al Jefferson.