Wolves record: 4-20
The Wolves’ lifeless 118-103 loss to Sacramento was a blessed chance to end a losing streak that reached 10 games instead.
Set inside a stretch of games that already has included losses to Utah, Denver, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers and now offers Cleveland, Houston and the Spurs before Christmas, Monday’s game presented an opponent that had lost 10 of its past 11 games.
The Kings had gone so far south that they fired coach Reggie Theus on Monday morning and named assistant coach Kenny Natt to replace him on an interim basis.
With all that going for them, the Wolves seemingly couldn’t lose. But they did, as the Kings rode a 33-17 third quarter to a 118-103 victory…
Al Jefferson had 22 first-half points, but went scoreless on three shots during the decisive third period for the Wolves (4-20), who sat all five starters for the final quarter of their 10th straight loss and dropped to 0-5 since Kevin McHale became coach.
“They weren’t double-teaming (in the first half), and I just took advantage,” Jefferson said. “It was a long time since I got to go one-on-one like that. They trapped in the second half, so I moved the ball, and guys got open shots.”
Rashad McCants scored 21 points while Craig Smith and Kevin Ollie added 17 apiece for the Timberwolves (4-20), who haven’t won since Nov. 28.
15 Kevin Love rebounds, a career high reached for the third time this season.
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