Minnesota outplayed Denver for most of Friday night, but couldn’t come
up with the big shots down the stretch and Anthony scored 33 points to
rally the Nuggets to a 99-91 victory.
Their first season opener since 1995 without Kevin
Garnett proved to be an entertaining one, even though the Wolves lost
99-91 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Target Center. That
snapped their 12-game winning streak in home openers.
Garnett proved to be an entertaining one, even though the Wolves lost
99-91 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Target Center. That
snapped their 12-game winning streak in home openers.
Expectations for this franchise probably haven’t been lower since the days before Garnett arrived.
But the new Wolves, led by Rashad McCants’ 23 points
and Al Jefferson’s double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, quickly
showed a crowd of 19,443 that they just might have the necessary
ingredients to be competitive.
and Al Jefferson’s double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, quickly
showed a crowd of 19,443 that they just might have the necessary
ingredients to be competitive.
The Wolves nursed a quick 13-point lead all the way into the final
quarter before the Nuggets, aimed this season at 60 victories and a
long playoff run, outscored them 25-14. A telling 11-2 burst midway
through the fourth quarter featured veterans Marcus Camby, Allen
Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, all of whom were in the league before six
of 10 Timberwolves who appeared Friday ever played a NBA game.
It wasn’t so bad. In fact, the first six-minute
stretch was as close to basketball heaven as you’ll see. Denver is a
talented team featuring Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. The Wolves,
who clearly haven’t been reading their press clippings, came out
looking like thoroughbreds. They raced to a 19-6 lead…
stretch was as close to basketball heaven as you’ll see. Denver is a
talented team featuring Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. The Wolves,
who clearly haven’t been reading their press clippings, came out
looking like thoroughbreds. They raced to a 19-6 lead…
After that initial surge, the angels stopped
singing, and the rainbows disappeared. The game became rather uneven.
McCants would get hot. Then he’d do three or four dumb things in a row:
lose the ball, bad foul, errant pass. … A lot of guys had some big
moments. And then they didn’t. We all knew this was going to happen.
singing, and the rainbows disappeared. The game became rather uneven.
McCants would get hot. Then he’d do three or four dumb things in a row:
lose the ball, bad foul, errant pass. … A lot of guys had some big
moments. And then they didn’t. We all knew this was going to happen.
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site posted notes on each quarter of the game.
Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld with notes from before, during, and after the game.
Paul Allen/KFAN also comments on the loss.
Telfair finished the game with nine points, five assists, three steals and three turnovers in 35 minutes. The game had a much
different tempo with him on the court compared with reserve point guard
Marko Jaric, who committed four fouls and did not score.
different tempo with him on the court compared with reserve point guard
Marko Jaric, who committed four fouls and did not score.
"He’s just got to continue to learn," Wittman said
of Telfair. "He’s got to learn in some pick and rolls situations. He
missed some opportunities to drop the ball off inside."
of Telfair. "He’s got to learn in some pick and rolls situations. He
missed some opportunities to drop the ball off inside."
The result was a team with 10 new bodies out of 15 and with nine
players with three seasons of experience or less. In this mix, Wittman
used 34-year-old veteran Theo Ratliff as his starting center, and he
ignited a burst that had the Opening Night crowd cheering with
unexpected delight.
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