The Wolves didn’t play their best but did enough
Monday night, beating the struggling Clippers 99-90. They’ve won four
of their past six games.
Monday night, beating the struggling Clippers 99-90. They’ve won four
of their past six games.
"If we want to become a better team, a playoff team
one day, we definitely need to win games we’re supposed to win," Wolves
guard Marko Jaric said. "That’s the difference (between) now and us in
the beginning of the season. In the beginning of the season, yes we
were hyped up and we beat Phoenix (and) New Orleans, but then the games
we were supposed to win, we flopped. Now we’re realizing that these are
the games we need to win."
one day, we definitely need to win games we’re supposed to win," Wolves
guard Marko Jaric said. "That’s the difference (between) now and us in
the beginning of the season. In the beginning of the season, yes we
were hyped up and we beat Phoenix (and) New Orleans, but then the games
we were supposed to win, we flopped. Now we’re realizing that these are
the games we need to win."
With their 16th victory, the Wolves (16-50)
surpassed the 1991-92 Minnesota team, which will keep the worst record
in franchise history — for at least another season — at 15-67.
surpassed the 1991-92 Minnesota team, which will keep the worst record
in franchise history — for at least another season — at 15-67.
Wolves record: 16-50
Imploring Jefferson to play with as much attention to detail at one end
of the floor as the other with repeated words and a nine-minute
benching Friday in Seattle, Wittman watched Jefferson block four shots
by halftime Monday on a night when the Wolves pick-and-rolled the
Clippers into submission by game’s end.
of the floor as the other with repeated words and a nine-minute
benching Friday in Seattle, Wittman watched Jefferson block four shots
by halftime Monday on a night when the Wolves pick-and-rolled the
Clippers into submission by game’s end.
Their efficiency in that standard-issue play contributed to 24 assists
— 10 of them from Marko Jaric, six from Rashad McCants — and
Jefferson’s 16 second-half points. But Jefferson called his team’s
offensive execution secondary.
— 10 of them from Marko Jaric, six from Rashad McCants — and
Jefferson’s 16 second-half points. But Jefferson called his team’s
offensive execution secondary.
From Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site:
The game was tight until Minnesota scored eight of the fourth quarter’s
first 10 points to pull away from the Clippers, who never seriously
threatened the margin from that point on in a 99-90 win.
The game was tight until Minnesota scored eight of the fourth quarter’s
first 10 points to pull away from the Clippers, who never seriously
threatened the margin from that point on in a 99-90 win.
The stats don’t tell the true story of this game. Again, it looks as if Al Jefferson led Minnesota’s charge tonight, but it was actually Rashad McCants and Marko Jaric. Jefferson finished the game for the Wolves, putting the final dagger in the hearts of the road-weary Clippers.
From AP recap:
Minnesota won for the fourth time in six games and moved past Seattle into fourth place in the Northwest Division. Jefferson has 48 double-doubles, trailing only Orlando’s Dwight Howard, who has 60, for the league lead.
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Al Jefferson:
His four first-half blocked shots were just as significant as his 48th
double-double — 22 points and 14 rebounds — of the season.
double-double — 22 points and 14 rebounds — of the season.
Wolves coach Randy Wittman said he had challenged forward Al Jefferson to play better defense, so he liked what he saw during tonight’s 99-90 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Target Center. Wittman said Jefferson’s helped his teammates when there was a breakdown, and that’s what he has wanted from Big Al.
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