Wolves record: 23-55
With four post players out, the Los Angeles Clippers were significantly smaller and Minnesota took advantage.
Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Craig Smith added 16 points, and the Timberwolves beat the Clippers 87-77 on Tuesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams…
Zach Randolph was suspended by Dunleavy on Monday for two games after he was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving. Chris Kaman sat because of flu-like symptoms and Al Thornton and Marcus Camby didn’t play because of injuries.
Timberwolves starters Randy Foye and Rodney Carney were both out with hip injuries.
7 Consecutive points rookie forward Kevin Love scored to start the third quarter, giving the Wolves a 54-41 lead. The Wolves stayed comfortably ahead from that point on. Love finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
62-34 Wolves’ rebounding advantage.
Carney is out tonight and perhaps tomorrow, too. Love came back right in to the starting lineup and Smith was first guy off the bench, in relief of Brian Cardinal.
Of course, at this point of the season, some people can’t help but think about the potential negative implications for the Wolves’ chances in the NBA draft lottery…
The Wolves, with only four games left, are trying to resist the temptation to play out the string or think about the lottery.
McHale said he is asking the team to “maintain a sense of professionalism.”
“You can’t give in,” McHale said before the game. “If we quit and give in tonight, we’ll quit and give in the seventh game of a playoff. Quitting is something that’s habitual.”
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