Wittman played Rashad McCants just 3 minutes, 11
seconds Tuesday night at Charlotte because of what the coach described
as a lack of professionalism. Wittman replaced McCants with veteran
Greg Buckner.
seconds Tuesday night at Charlotte because of what the coach described
as a lack of professionalism. Wittman replaced McCants with veteran
Greg Buckner.
Buckner had appeared in just one game since the
all-star break, but he played 31 minutes and scored 13 points to spark
the Wolves’ comeback attempt, which fell short in a 121-119 loss to the
Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Wolves record: 19-58
Buckner played the entire fourth quarter and Jefferson supplied 29 of
his 40 points — which tied a career high — after halftime.
his 40 points — which tied a career high — after halftime.
"Greg Buckner, he was the reason why we had the chance to win tonight,"
Wittman said. "Nobody else. He hadn’t played in a couple of months and
he didn’t mope. We called and he was ready to play. Our young guys
should learn a lesson from that. We’re not going to let guys go out and
play with no effort or purpose."
Wolves forward Al Jefferson came alive as tonight’s game
progressed, but his slow start contributed to his team’s big hole
early. He tied his career-high with 40 points, but it wasn’t enough as
the Wolves lost 121-119 at Charlotte.
progressed, but his slow start contributed to his team’s big hole
early. He tied his career-high with 40 points, but it wasn’t enough as
the Wolves lost 121-119 at Charlotte.
“He
was just going to go through the motions in the first quarter,” coach
Randy Wittman said. “We get down (almost) 20. He’s got to learn. He’s a
young kid. We all get paid for 82 games. There’s no games you just take
off. We don’t do it that way. He got embarrassed a little bit and then
he wakes up and plays pretty hard.”
was just going to go through the motions in the first quarter,” coach
Randy Wittman said. “We get down (almost) 20. He’s got to learn. He’s a
young kid. We all get paid for 82 games. There’s no games you just take
off. We don’t do it that way. He got embarrassed a little bit and then
he wakes up and plays pretty hard.”
The Wolves are firming up the third-best chance in the NBA draft
lottery after losing their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday in
Charlotte. Trailing by 18 points in the second quarter and by five in
the final minute, the Wolves had two chances to lead or tie in the
final 1.4 seconds, but squandered both: Randy Foye’s pass for Al
Jefferson on a pick-and-roll was behind the big guy and went off his
hands out of bounds with 1.4 seconds left. They still had life and the
ball back with .7 seconds left, but Jefferson’s baseline jumper hit the
front of the rim and bounded away.
lottery after losing their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday in
Charlotte. Trailing by 18 points in the second quarter and by five in
the final minute, the Wolves had two chances to lead or tie in the
final 1.4 seconds, but squandered both: Randy Foye’s pass for Al
Jefferson on a pick-and-roll was behind the big guy and went off his
hands out of bounds with 1.4 seconds left. They still had life and the
ball back with .7 seconds left, but Jefferson’s baseline jumper hit the
front of the rim and bounded away.
From the AP recap:
The Bobcats let the Timberwolves, who entered the night with the
third-worst record in the NBA, back in the game with an anemic defense
and poor execution.