Wolves record: 5-24
One night after ending a 13-game losing streak, the Wolves spotted the Orlando Magic a 17-2 lead and were outscored 39-20 in the fourth quarter of a 118-94 loss at Target Center.
Coach Kevin McHale, 1-9 since replacing the fired Randy Wittman, summed up his team’s night in one sentence: “We started off with low energy in the first and ended up with low energy in the fourth.”
The Wolves (5-24) got in late after Friday night’s 120-107 win at New York and were playing the second of back-to-back games, but center Al Jefferson said that was no excuse.
Ahead at halftime and tied early in the fourth quarter, Minnesota fizzled out and lost for the eighth time in as many chances this season playing the tail end of back-to-backs. The Wolves have lost 14 of their past 15.McHale before the game called the Timberwolves a “resilient group” and said that even after beating the Knicks he didn’t see much change in the players’ faces.
Saturday, the Wolves had the chance to win two in a row for the first time since April. And it slipped away.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Rashad McCants and Rodney Carney tied the score 82-82 with 10:16 to play. But from there Minnesota made only four more field goals, and only one in the final 4:25.
From the Associated Press:
Rashad McCants scored 21 points for Minnesota, which ended a 13-game losing streak Friday in New York. Al Jefferson had 16 points and Ryan Gomes 14 for the Timberwolves, who have lost nine straight at home…
Minnesota forward Mike Miller missed his third straight game with a sprained right ankle. … Orlando, which beat Minnesota 100-89 Dec. 3, swept the season series for the first time since 1997-98.
Good for Rashad McCants to come back with a 21-point night after going off for 23 against the Knicks. And Kevin Love’s 10 rebounds – four offensive – were a nice touch. He leads all rookies with 7.7 RPG and his 3.4 ORPG ranks seventh in the whole league.
–To the surprise and delight of the crowd, Mark Madsen checked into the game at 6:40 left in the first quarter. He scored his first points of the season on a goaltending by Dwight Howard.
–After the game, coach Kevin McHale said he brought Madsen and Brian Cardinal into the game early to provide energy off the bench after a lethargic start by the Wolves.
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