Wolves record: 16-27
The 600 Project game recap
One night after digging an early 16-point hole in an overtime win over Chicago, the Wolves nearly let a 14-point lead get away in the final quarter Monday night against the injury-depleted Milwaukee Bucks.
Playing their first game since leading scorer Michael Redd suffered a season-ending knee injury, and with center Andrew Bogut sidelined by a bad back, the Bucks trimmed Minnesota’s lead to five with 4:11 remaining.
Al Jefferson scored four points in the final 3:45, however, and Ryan Gomes nailed a big three-pointer with 1:46 left as the Wolves nailed down a 90-83 win at the Bradley Center.
Jefferson had 23 points and 10 rebounds as he roamed the paint freely and Ryan Gomes added 22 points, lifting the Timberwolves over the short-handed Bucks 90-83.
Minnesota improved to an NBA-best 10-2 in 2009 and Jefferson thwarted the Bucks when it counted in the fourth quarter…
Jefferson delivered one last statement to Western Conference coaches before they submit All-Star Game ballots today. He followed Sunday’s 39-point performance in a comeback overtime victory over Chicago with a 23-point, 10-rebound night in which he provided two pivotal plays:
He picked up a rolling ball that Ramon Sessions tried to save and muscled in a layup to regain a seven-point lead, 83-76, with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left. After the Bucks again pulled within five, Jefferson passed through a defense collapsing around him and found Ryan Gomes open for a vital three-pointer with 1:46 left.
The Wolves now are 5-1 in their past six road games.
8 Differential between Mike Miller’s rebounds (10) and shots attempted (two).
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Minnesota center Al Jefferson, playing as well as any big man in the league these days, scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. “Big Al anchored it,” Minnesota coach Kevin McHale said. After the Bucks had closed to within five, Jefferson picked up a loose ball and made a layup to give Minnesota an 83-76 lead with 3 minutes 45 seconds left.