Damien Wilkins got a putback basket to drop at the buzzer after a Jonny Flynn miss, giving the Timberwolves the two-point, buzzer-beating Opening Night victory. The bucket completed a Minnesota comeback from a 14-point deficit with 6:39 to go in the game, after the Wolves had trailed by as much as 19 in the second half.
The difference was a 12-0 Minnesota run in the middle of the fourth quarter, a strech in which the Wolves scored on six of seven possessions and forced three missed jumpers and three turnovers on the defensive end. Minnesota also blocked two shots down low and got a steal in the game’s final minute, a defensive effort to be proud of.
Flynn scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, getting to the line four times as the game wound down and making seven of eight free throws. His debut performance was enough to overcome 27 points and 15 rebounds by New Jersey’s Brook Lopez, who ran rampant down low for much of the game.
For more game discussion, visit the forum thread. (The Timberwolves are undefeated. Let’s enjoy it while we can.)
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