Their 105-82 loss to Toronto on Sunday was decided by a lopsided second
half in which the three-point-loving Raptors outscored the Wolves by 19
points, including a 26-14 third-quarter advantage.
half in which the three-point-loving Raptors outscored the Wolves by 19
points, including a 26-14 third-quarter advantage.
But the home team, so energized since they transformed a 5-34 season
start by winning five of their next seven games, seemed lifeless from
the start, and lost their third consecutive game before a home audience
announced at 13,785 fans.
start by winning five of their next seven games, seemed lifeless from
the start, and lost their third consecutive game before a home audience
announced at 13,785 fans.
Wittman wanted his team to focus on its perimeter
defense against Toronto, a team loaded with shooters and the NBA’s most
accurate team from behind the three-point line.
defense against Toronto, a team loaded with shooters and the NBA’s most
accurate team from behind the three-point line.
Instead, the Wolves gave up 50.6 percent shooting.
The Raptors had made just one three-pointer until Jose Calderon hit two
big ones with less than a minute left in the first half.
The Raptors had made just one three-pointer until Jose Calderon hit two
big ones with less than a minute left in the first half.
Wolves record: 10-39
Timberwolves Today postgame podcast
National Post recap
Quite simply, if this game is indeed a hangover from Friday, the Timberwolves took a huge step backwards. For the first time in roughly a month, they showed their immaturity and lack of focus on the defensive end of the court. There’s just no excuse.
From the AP recap:
Jefferson entered the game averaging 30.2 points and 15 rebounds in his last six games in Minneapolis. But Toronto threw multiple defenders at Minnesota’s big man, and the Wolves offense sputtered two nights after taking league-leading Boston down to the final seconds. Jefferson and Marko Jaric were 13-for-22 from the floor, but the rest of the Wolves went 19-for-56.
“I didn’t see this coming,” Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. “I
thought our guys would respond after even a tough loss like that.”
thought our guys would respond after even a tough loss like that.”
Centre Al Jefferson led the Timberwolves with 18 points and guard Marko Jaric scored 11.
“They just had more energy than us,” Jefferson said.
23 Margin of defeat, Wolves’ worst since a 113-82 blowout loss at Houston on Jan. 11.
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