Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton all sat out a 94-90 victory
over the Timberwolves in which Pistons coach Flip Saunders rested his
three Eastern Conference All-Stars with 15 game still left in the
regular season. His team won anyway, ending the Wolves’ home winning
streak at four games.
over the Timberwolves in which Pistons coach Flip Saunders rested his
three Eastern Conference All-Stars with 15 game still left in the
regular season. His team won anyway, ending the Wolves’ home winning
streak at four games.
The Pistons trailed by 21 points in the second quarter and by seven at
the fourth quarter’s start and rallied against the Wolves regulars with
a makeshift lineup that turned rookie guard Rodney Stuckey from unsung
reserve to the night’s star.
the fourth quarter’s start and rallied against the Wolves regulars with
a makeshift lineup that turned rookie guard Rodney Stuckey from unsung
reserve to the night’s star.
Wolves record: 19-54
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site and Wolves advance scout Brent Haskins with postgame analysis
Associated Press on the Pistons decision to deactivate three of their starters
On Sunday, the Wolves won their seventh game in March and their fourth
consecutive at home, beating a Utah team missing starters Andrei
Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur. On Tuesday, the Pistons started Jarvis
Hayes, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess and longtime
Target Center favorite Theo Ratliff.
consecutive at home, beating a Utah team missing starters Andrei
Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur. On Tuesday, the Pistons started Jarvis
Hayes, Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess and longtime
Target Center favorite Theo Ratliff.
In the third quarter, Jefferson’s shot down low with
11:43 remaining ended the Pistons’ run. Then Gomes’ three-point play 30
seconds later pushed Minnesota’s lead back to 55-44.
11:43 remaining ended the Pistons’ run. Then Gomes’ three-point play 30
seconds later pushed Minnesota’s lead back to 55-44.
The Pistons narrowed the deficit to 72-65 heading
into the fourth quarter. The Wolves fell to 15-13 when leading heading
into the fourth quarter.
into the fourth quarter. The Wolves fell to 15-13 when leading heading
into the fourth quarter.
The Wolves couldn’t hang onto their fourth-quarter
lead just one game after they made clutch plays in the fourth Sunday
against Utah for a 110-103 home victory.
lead just one game after they made clutch plays in the fourth Sunday
against Utah for a 110-103 home victory.
Al Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds, but only managed 12 shots while being hounded by double- and triple-teams all night.
Foye scored 18 points, but was just 6-for-14 from the field, committed a
costly turnover in the closing minutes and rushed an off-balance shot out of a
timeout with 45 seconds to go to seal the loss.
costly turnover in the closing minutes and rushed an off-balance shot out of a
timeout with 45 seconds to go to seal the loss.
Of course, in a loss such as this, there is blame for anyone and everyone. However, tonight’s loss should be especially painful for Randy Foye, who just couldn’t get it together.
First, with the game tied at 88 and the Wolves with the ball with 65
second remaining, Foye rightly seeks to get the ball into Jefferson.
There are two defenders between them. Instead of drawing them off the
big man to free him up, or faking, say, the bounce pass to then lob it
in, Foye lazily bounces the ball inside. The defenders, both
anticipating the pass, cut it off easily. It wasn’t even close. (Twenty
second later, Detroit superstar Rodney Stuckey [27 points, mostly on
Foye] sticks a 14-footer—on Foye.)
second remaining, Foye rightly seeks to get the ball into Jefferson.
There are two defenders between them. Instead of drawing them off the
big man to free him up, or faking, say, the bounce pass to then lob it
in, Foye lazily bounces the ball inside. The defenders, both
anticipating the pass, cut it off easily. It wasn’t even close. (Twenty
second later, Detroit superstar Rodney Stuckey [27 points, mostly on
Foye] sticks a 14-footer—on Foye.)
The next play: Out of a timeout, Foye takes the ball down the court,
dribbles baseline, draws a second defender, and pulls back to take a
15-footer. It clanks off the rim, Detroit rebounds. Game, for all
intents and purposes, over.
dribbles baseline, draws a second defender, and pulls back to take a
15-footer. It clanks off the rim, Detroit rebounds. Game, for all
intents and purposes, over.
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