Wolves preseason record: 5-1
Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman was looking for better play from his starters Sunday night and he got it.
Guard/forward Mike Miller scored 11 of his 17 points in the opening period as the Wolves raced to a 31-18 first-quarter lead in a 111-107 win over the Denver Nuggets in Bismarck, N.D.
Guard Kevin Ollie hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds to help Minnesota improve its exhibition record to 5-1.
From the Associated Press:
Ryan Gomes scored 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field for the Timberwolves (5-1). Mike Miller had 17 points, Al Jefferson added 15, Craig Smith 13 and Randy Foye 12. Foye also had 15 assists.
“Miller and Gomes had the hot hands,” Denver coach George Karl said. “I thought some of that was our fault and some of it was they are very talented shooters.”
…Reserve guard Blake Ahearn broke a tie when he made a 3-pointer from the left corner with 33 seconds to play to give the Timberwolves a 107-106 lead.
Rookie Kevin Love continued to struggle, finishing with five points in a little more than 11 minutes before fouling out.
Wittman said the Wolves need to be more disciplined in general to avoid foul trouble.
“We’ve got to do a better job of not putting a team into the bonus with seven, eight minutes to go in a quarter,” Wittman said. “That’s hard to overcome, especially against a good team like Denver.”
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