Wolves record: 22-54
Minnesota ended a nine-game road losing streak and dealt a crushing setback to Utah’s diminishing homes for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Although the Timberwolves are lottery-bound once again this summer, they showed how they can still rattle the postseason seedings by beating the Jazz 103-102 on Friday night, ending Utah’s 15-game home winning streak.
“I think we put a little shock in their plans,” said Rodney Carney, who scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Gomes also scored 25 points, and Mike Miller had 14 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota, which outrebounded Utah 42-28.
Perhaps not even Gomes, who as he left the playing floor and made his way to the Timberwolves’ locker room repeatedly shouted, “It’s a stick-up” following Minnesota’s win.
“That’s what we say whenever we go in and get a win, especially that close,” Gomes said. “We know how well they play at home.”
The Timberwolves, who were without guard Randy Foye for the third straight game and had rookie of the year candidate Kevin Love at less than 100 percent, took the lead for good when Rodney Carney made a three-pointer with one minute left in the fourth quarter. The shot gave Minnesota a 101-98 lead.
The Jazz, down three on their next two possessions, opted to shoot twos and bypass three-point opportunities. Mike Miller made a 22-foot jump shot with 32.9 seconds remaining to give the Timberwolves a 103-100 lead…
McHale said Love had been sick all day, and the rookie didn’t play with his usual energy.
Trailing by five points with less than eight minutes left and by four points with less than three minutes remaining, the Wolves won at Utah for the first time since December 2005 with an inexplicable finishing flourish that left coach Kevin McHale positively beaming and clapping his hands all the way to the locker room after Deron Williams’ potential winner missed just before the final buzzer.
Their remaining fans at home might have lamented the lottery-odds implications when the Wolves won their 22nd game with just six left over a Utah team that owes them a first-round draft pick either this summer or next.
McHale and his players sure didn’t.
“You still have to play games to win,” McHale said. “Guys would much rather fly home to Minnesota tonight with a win than a loss. We’ve just got to compete all the way to the end of the season. That’s what we’ve talked about.”
MVP
Rodney Carney, Wolves
An unrestricted free agent this summer, he made another case for his continued employment by matching a career high with 25 points that included five three-pointers and 10 points in the fourth quarter.
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