Wolves record: 12-38
From Dave Ivey/NBA.com:
The Mavericks fought back from a 13-point deficit to take a 106-104 lead with 2:35 remaining, but the Timberwolves responded with a 13-2 surge to finish the game and extend their season-best winning streak to three games.
“It’s just a good win against a playoff-caliber team,” said Minnesota rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, who had a team-high 19 points and seven assists. “We really held them off during that great run and we came away with a big win.”
Corey Brewer scored 14 points and began the decisive run with a 3-pointer at the 2:14 mark. He pushed the lead to 112-108 by making all three free throws after he was fouled by Nowitzki on a 25-footer with 1:07 left. Rookie Wayne Ellington delivered the dagger, swishing a 3-pointer from the corner to make it 115-108 with 32.3 seconds remaining.
“It’s just a good win against a playoff-caliber team,” said Minnesota rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, who had a team-high 19 points and seven assists. “We really held them off during that great run and we came away with a big win.”
Corey Brewer scored 14 points and began the decisive run with a 3-pointer at the 2:14 mark. He pushed the lead to 112-108 by making all three free throws after he was fouled by Nowitzki on a 25-footer with 1:07 left. Rookie Wayne Ellington delivered the dagger, swishing a 3-pointer from the corner to make it 115-108 with 32.3 seconds remaining.
Al Jefferson and Ryan Hollins added 15 points and Ryan Gomes scored 12 as all five starters reached twin digits. Kevin Love had a double-double off the bench with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wolves now have beaten the Clippers, the Knicks and a suddenly struggling Mavericks team consecutively for what Rambis calls a “multitude of reasons.”
They include a corresponding lineup change that saw long, athletic Ryan Hollins move into the starting frontcourt and Kevin Love and Damien Wilkins switch to reserve roles that have both helped produce faster starts to games and bolster the team’s second unit.
They include a corresponding lineup change that saw long, athletic Ryan Hollins move into the starting frontcourt and Kevin Love and Damien Wilkins switch to reserve roles that have both helped produce faster starts to games and bolster the team’s second unit.
Rookie point guard Jonny Flynn is playing with newfound direction and assertiveness, as evidenced by his 19 points, seven assists and one turnover.
At 12-38, Minnesota is the worst team in the Western Conference, at least by record.
At 31-19, the Mavericks looked much worse than the Timberwolves in this game.
Three games ago Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis told his team they were starting over. Forget their record, the fact that they’d been blown out three times in a row, and that the 2009-10 NBA season was basically at its mid-point. Rambis gave his team a clean slate and said they could start over. So far, they’re off to a great start.
The Timberwolves, who hadn’t beating Dallas since 2006 and boasted a modest 11-38 record (worst in the Western Conference), shot 54% from the field and lead most of the way as they handed Dallas a 108-117 loss on their home court. It didn’t take a career night from an opposing point guard to cost Dallas a win, rather they stood by seeming completely disinterested on the defensive end as six Timberwolves scored in double-figures and Minnesota racked up 36 points in the paint.
The Timberwolves, who hadn’t beating Dallas since 2006 and boasted a modest 11-38 record (worst in the Western Conference), shot 54% from the field and lead most of the way as they handed Dallas a 108-117 loss on their home court. It didn’t take a career night from an opposing point guard to cost Dallas a win, rather they stood by seeming completely disinterested on the defensive end as six Timberwolves scored in double-figures and Minnesota racked up 36 points in the paint.