From Tim Booth/AP Sports:
Ryan Gomes led seven Minnesota players in double figures with 23
points and 15 rebounds, and the Timberwolves pulled away in the final
16 minutes to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 121-116 on Friday night.
points and 15 rebounds, and the Timberwolves pulled away in the final
16 minutes to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 121-116 on Friday night.
The teams, two of the three worst in the Western Conference with a
combined 99 losses and battling to have more pingpong balls in the NBA
draft lottery, took advantage of the other’s deficiencies to play an
entertaining, fast-paced, style. But when Minnesota decided to put
forth a little defensive effort in the final 1 1/2 quarters, the
Timberwolves managed to pull away.
combined 99 losses and battling to have more pingpong balls in the NBA
draft lottery, took advantage of the other’s deficiencies to play an
entertaining, fast-paced, style. But when Minnesota decided to put
forth a little defensive effort in the final 1 1/2 quarters, the
Timberwolves managed to pull away.
Wolves record: 15-49
His team surrendered 60 points in a first half that Wolves forward Kirk
Snyder called a "circus." The Wolves turned the game with a 40-28 third
quarter that included a 23-5 run after Wittman substituted rookie
forward Chris Richard for star Al Jefferson for nearly nine minutes.
Snyder called a "circus." The Wolves turned the game with a 40-28 third
quarter that included a 23-5 run after Wittman substituted rookie
forward Chris Richard for star Al Jefferson for nearly nine minutes.
"Offense isn’t our problem," Wittman said on a night when seven Wolves
players scored in double figures. "It’s the other end. We substituted
those guys in who had that on their mind."
players scored in double figures. "It’s the other end. We substituted
those guys in who had that on their mind."
Then Gomes all but clinched the victory when he hit a jumper with 2:28 left for a 115-105 advantage.
"I just thought he was the glue for this team the whole night," Wittman said.
With their 15th win this season, the Wolves need one
more victory to ensure they will not finish with the worst record in
franchise history. The 1991-92 club went 15-67.
more victory to ensure they will not finish with the worst record in
franchise history. The 1991-92 club went 15-67.
The win prevented Seattle from sweeping the four-game season series.
3 Wolves’ road winning streak in the past eight days. That ‘s one more than they won in the season’s first four months.
The Timberwolves are young but also talented and Friday was their
night. Ryan Gomes showed why he will be a desired free agent in the
summer and Randy Foye is getting close to full health.
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