Wolves record: 3-10
Game recaps:
Al Jefferson continued to dominate Phoenix with 28 points and 17 rebounds, including a franchise-record 12 on the offensive end. He averaged 30.5 points and 15.3 rebounds in four games against Phoenix last season.
“We’ve had a really hard time with Al,” Nash said. “Tonight he scored and rebounded, but he really didn’t break down our defense and create openings. It’s big for us to have someone to match up with him like that.”
Minnesota outrebounded Phoenix 49-36, but missed 11 free throws in the game and only managed a 10-8 edge in second-chance points despite grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.
But it was O’Neal’s hulking presence — and 18-point, 10-rebound, three-block game — that loomed largest on a night when the Wolves never led only three days after winning by 26 points at Detroit.
This time, the Wolves allowed the Suns, league leaders in field-goal percentage, to shoot 68 percent in a first quarter when they took seven-point leads three different times, turning that into 16-point margin by halftime and to as many as 18 in the second half…
“Shaq is a big dude,” said Wolves point guard Randy Foye, who followed Sunday’s 23-point, 14-assist game with 17 points and five assists. “Even though they might say he’s not the same any more, when you go into that lane and you see that big ’32’ coming closer, most of the guys are either expecting to get hit or get their shot blocked. He’s a presence in there, trust me.”
The home team didn’t go down without a fight, chopping a 16-point halftime deficit to five in the third period and twice getting it down to six points in the final minute.
In the end, though, the Wolves couldn’t overcome a lackluster first quarter in which they allowed the Suns to shoot 68.4 percent (13 of 19) while taking a 28-23 lead.
Coming off a 106-80 road victory over the Pistons on Sunday, Wolves coach Randy Wittman said his team’s slow start took him by surprise.
Turnovers were also a killer for Minnesota. For the season, the Wolves are among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio but on Wednesday night the team committed 17 turnovers that led to 20 points for Phoenix.