SB Nation Minnesota - Timberwolves Get New Year Off To Good Start By Defeating Nets, 103-88https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-01-02T02:26:49-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16624782011-01-02T02:26:49-06:002011-01-02T02:26:49-06:00Wolves Knock Off Nets, 103-88
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>Kevin Love</span> scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 20th straight double-double as Minnesota defeated New Jersey, 103-88, at Target Center.</p>
<p><span>Darko Milicic</span> supplied 16 points while <span>Michael Beasley</span> and <span>Martell Webster</span> provided 10 points apiece for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a>, who have won three of their last four games.</p>
<p><span>Sasha Vujacic</span> matched a career-high with 22 points and Minnesota native <span>Kris Humphries</span> chipped in with 12 points and 14 rebounds for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a>, who have dropped five straight.</p>
<p>Trailing by one to start the second half, Minnesota opened the third quarter on a 14-0 burst to forge a 68-55 lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.</p>
<p>New Jersey’s first points came 23 seconds later on a <span>Derrick Favors</span> dunk. The Nets made just 4-of-17 shots in scoring only nine points in the period, a season-low for any quarter.</p>
<p>“We rotated on defense, we moved the basketball and played great as a team in the second quarter, but then in third quarter, they just came out and played better than we did,” Vujacic said. “We have to take a day of rest tomorrow and study to find out what we can do better in the next game.”</p>
<p>Minnesota took a 77-64 lead into the fourth quarter and did not allow the visitors to get closer than 10 the rest of the way.</p>
<p>“We’ve been playing a lot better,” Love said. “I can’t even tell you how many fourth quarter double-digit leads we’ve lost. It goes to show you we’re playing good basketball. We just have to figure out how to close out games and eventually, we’re going to get there. Every day we’re getting older, spending another day with each other and learning to how to figure this thing out.”</p>
<p>Love scored 11 points as the Timberwolves took a 36-29 lead after the first quarter. Both teams shot well, with Minnesota making 13-of-20 shots and the Nets connecting on 13-of-23.</p>
<p>Trailing by seven, the Nets embarked on a 16-5 surge that gave them a 51-47 lead with 3:17 left before the break. <span>Travis Outlaw</span> ignited the run with a three-pointer and Humphries finished it with a 17-foot jump shot.</p>
<p>Outlaw’s jumper with 1:17 to go gave the Nets a 55-54 edge at the half.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Love hit 7-of-12 from the floor while Milicic connected on 8-of-9…<span>Luke Ridnour</span> added nine points and six assists in the win as the T-Wolves improved to 7-8 at home…Outlaw finished with 17 points…<span>Devin Harris</span> totaled 16 in the loss but made only 3-of-13 shots. He did hand out a game-high eight assists. Vujacic knocked down 9-of-16 shots, including 3-of-7 from long distance. He grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/1/2/1908563/wolves-knock-off-nets-103-88Christopher Gates2011-01-01T14:44:28-06:002011-01-01T14:44:28-06:00Nets And Wolves Tip Off 2011 At Target Center
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<p><font size="2"> (Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> hope to finish a three-game homestand on a winning note when they entertain the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> at Target Center tonight. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> After topping New Orleans to start their residency the Wolves fell to Denver on Wednesday when <span>Chauncey Billups</span> scored 15 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> snapped a three-game road losing streak with a 119-113 victory over Minnesota. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Michael Beasley</span> scored 33 to lead the Timberwolves. <span>Kevin Love</span> recorded his 19th straight double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds and Luke Ridnour scored 20, but the Minnesota failed in its attempt to win three games in a row for the first time this season. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "This is one we felt like we let slip away against a team we should have beat," Love said. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Nets, meanwhile, lost their fourth straight game and fell to 0-2 on a three-game road trip on New Year's Eve in Chicago when <span>Carlos Boozer</span> led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> held on to defeat New Jersey, 90-81. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Brook Lopez netted 19 points and <span>Travis Outlaw</span> and <span>Stephen Graham</span> each ended with 16 for the Nets, who also dropped a 114-93 decision at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and are now just 3-15 on the road this season. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "Brave effort by our team tonight," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "Defensively we played much better. The game was physical. We really played hard against Boozer and those guys inside." </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> On the injury front for New Jersey, reserve point guard <span>Jordan Farmar</span> missed the contest in Chicago with a bruised right knee and is awaiting MRI results while forward <span>Troy Murphy</span> is battling the flu, Both will likely miss tonight's game. For the Wolves, center <span>Darko Milicic</span> is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Minnesota, which is 6-8 at Target Center, has beaten New Jersey seven straight times in the Twin Cities. The Nets haven't won in Minneapolis since Nov. 23, 2002. </font></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2011/1/1/1907707/nets-and-wolves-tip-off-2011-at-target-centerChristopher Gates2010-12-30T02:09:57-06:002010-12-30T02:09:57-06:00Billups, Nuggets Defeat Timberwolves, 119-113
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>Chauncey Billups</span> scored 15 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> snapped a three-game road losing streak with a 119-113 victory over Minnesota.</p>
<p><span>Ty Lawson</span> contributed 19 points off the bench and <span>Arron Afflalo</span> scored 17 for the Nuggets, who got a trio of key three-pointers from Billups in the final quarter for their seventh win in a row in Minneapolis.</p>
<p><span>Michael Beasley</span> scored 33 to lead Minnesota. <span>Kevin Love</span> added 26 points and 14 rebounds and <span>Luke Ridnour</span> scored 20, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a> failed in their attempt to win three games in a row for the first time this season.</p>
<p>Denver expects to have <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> back on Thursday. The star forward has missed the team’s last five games to be with his family following the death of his sister last week.</p>
<p>The Nuggets went 2-3 in his absence, winning their last two, but they were also without key contributors Nene and <span>Kenyon Martin</span> on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“With us not having our bigs, we were going to be hurting. So we had to have a couple of guys step up big,” said Billups. “That’s exactly what happened.”</p>
<p>No. 1 on that list was Billups, who hit a trio of back-breaking three-pointers in the fourth quarter. He also hit four straight free throws down the stretch to ice the win.</p>
<p>“He’s the one that kept them in the game,” said <span>Martell Webster</span>, who scored 17 points off the bench for Minnesota and was victimized on a couple of Billups’ threes.</p>
<p>“I should have stayed a little closer to him,” Webster said. “I’m kicking myself for that.”</p>
<p>Minnesota started the fourth quarter with an 83-82 lead and went ahead by five, but the Nuggets rallied to take the lead. And Billups made sure they kept it.</p>
<p>His first three gave Denver a 98-90 advantage midway through the quarter and the second one made it 105-101. Ridnour made two free throws and Beasley hit a bank shot to tie the game, but Billups’ three with 2:56 remaining put the Nuggets in front for good.</p>
<p>Billups made every shot he took in the quarter — including all six free throws — to make sure Denver continued its dominance in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>The Nuggets, in addition to winning their last seven in the city, have taken 21 of the past 27 meetings overall.</p>
<p>“When they don’t have that normal starting unit, they still come in here and get the W,” Webster said.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Minnesota’s two-game winning streak came on the heels of a seven-game slide…The Timberwolves held a 30-23 lead after the first quarter and 59-63 at halftime.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2010/12/30/1903787/billups-nuggets-defeat-timberwolves-119-113Christopher Gates2010-12-29T19:42:57-06:002010-12-29T19:42:57-06:00Wolves Hope To Extend Streak At Nuggets' Expense
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<p>(Sports Network) – The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> must enjoy seeing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> on the schedule as evidenced by their lopsided advantage over the past few years in this series.</p>
<p>The two Northwest Division inhabitants will renew the rivalry tonight from the Target Center in the Twin Cities. Denver defeated the Timberwolves, 115-113, on Dec. 18 this season and has won 20 of the past 26 matchups. It’s also unbeaten in the past six contests in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>The Nuggets were able to end a three-game slide with Tuesday’s 95-77 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a>, as <span>Chauncey Billups</span> finished with 18 points and nine assists in the finale of a brief two-game homestand at the Pepsi Center. Nene and <span>J.R. Smith</span> both finished with 17 points for Denver, which played without superstar <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> for a fourth straight game. Anthony is dealing with the recent death of his sister. The team expect to have Anthony back on Thursday following their game in Minnesota.</p>
<p><span>Arron Afflalo</span> had 15 points in last night’s win.</p>
<p>“We played really good defense and then we executed in the third quarter,” Afflalo said postgame. “That was really it, playing good defense and executing on offense.”</p>
<p>Denver will try to stop a three-game road losing streak Wednesday and is only 4-10 away from the Rockies this season. It is 13-3 at home and could also be without forward <span>Al Harrington</span> tonight because of a thumb injury.</p>
<p>Minnesota hopes to extend its winning streak to a season-high three straight games this evening and opened a three-game homestand with Monday’s 113-98 triumph over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a>.</p>
<p><span>Michael Beasley</span> compiled 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while rookie <span>Wesley Johnson</span> scored a season-best 24 points thanks to six threes for the Timberwolves, who have won two straight following a seven-game slide and opened the third quarter with a 24-10 surge.</p>
<p><span>Kevin Love</span> had 16 points and 11 rebounds in a winning cause.</p>
<p>“It feels good to win two in a row,” Love said. “The biggest thing was everyone contributed. All the way down the line — it was pretty good.”</p>
<p>The Wolves will also host New Jersey and are 6-7 at home in 2010-11.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2010/12/29/1903317/wolves-hope-to-extend-streak-at-nuggets-expenseChristopher Gates2010-12-27T21:44:32-06:002010-12-27T21:44:32-06:00Wolves Defeat Hornets, 113-98, To Win Second Straight
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>Michael Beasley</span> scored 30 points, <span>Wesley Johnson</span> had 24 and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> began their three-game homestand with a 113-98 victory over New Orleans.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves have won two in a row on the heels of a seven-game losing streak that was snapped Sunday in a 98-97 victory over Cleveland.</p>
<p>Beasley scored the go-ahead basket in that game and led the way again Monday, also grabbing nine rebounds with seven assists.</p>
<p><span>David West</span> scored 23 points and <span>Chris Paul</span> had 22 with 13 assists but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">Hornets</a> saw their road losing streak reach seven games.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2010/12/27/1899486/wolves-defeat-hornets-113-98-to-win-second-straightChristopher Gates2010-12-27T16:44:34-06:002010-12-27T16:44:34-06:00Hornets Buzz Into Minnesota To Battle Timberwolves
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<p>(Sports Network) – The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a> will try to stop a six-game road losing streak when they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> tonight from Target Center.</p>
<p>The Hornets are 5-9 away from the Big Easy, where they handed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> a 93-86 setback on Sunday. <span>Chris Paul</span> had 22 points and eight assists, <span>David West</span> scored 18 points and <span>Emeka Okafor</span> recorded 14 points and 15 rebounds for New Orleans, which has won two straight and four of six games.</p>
<p>“We just got aggressive. In that first half we were not aggressive offensively or defensively,” Paul said. “In that second half D. West got going a little bit. We got stops, our defense created the offense.”</p>
<p><span>Trevor Ariza</span> added 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Hornets improve to 13-3 at New Orleans Arena this season.</p>
<p>Minnesota will begin a three-game homestand tonight versus the Hornets, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a>, and is 5-7 in the Twin Cities this season.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves were able to stop a seven-game slide with Sunday’s 98-97 triumph in Cleveland, as <span>Michael Beasley</span> finished with 28 points and buried the go-ahead basket late in regulation. <span>Kevin Love</span> registered 16 points and 18 rebounds, while <span>Luke Ridnour</span> contributed 23 points and six assists in the win.</p>
<p>“It gives the guys a lot of confidence,” Timberwolves coach <span>Kurt Rambis</span> said. “It’s a continual learning process for us. In the last sequence, we talked about driving to the open side and that’s where he was able to score, get to the basket and make his right-handed layup. Those are things he has to learn and grow with.”</p>
<p><span>Jonny Flynn</span> netted 11 points off the bench for Minnesota. Wolves guard <span>Sebastian Telfair</span> is questionable for Monday’s game due to a case of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.</p>
<p>New Orleans and Minnesota are meeting for the first time since the Hornets won all four matchups a year ago. The Hornets are unbeaten in the past six contests with Minnesota and sport a 14-4 ledger in the previous 18 meetings.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves have lost two straight and seven of eight as the host in this series.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2010/12/27/1899066/hornets-buzz-into-minnesota-to-battle-timberwolvesChristopher Gates2010-12-27T11:26:02-06:002010-12-27T11:26:02-06:00Wolves Week: A Look Ahead At The Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> will have three games this upcoming week as they close out 2010 and move into 2011. All three of these games are home games for Minnesota, so hopefully they can get a little momentum going as we change calendars.</p>
<p>Their first clash this week will see them hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a> this evening at the Target Center. The Wolves and Hornets have not hooked up yet this season, and New Orleans will come in sporting an 18-12 record, good for third in the NBA's Southwest Division. Minnesota currently sits in fifth place in the Northwest Division with a mark of 7-24. New Orleans is only 5-9 outside of the Crescent City, however, and the Wolves currently sport a record of 5-7 at the Target Center. Tipoff for this one is set for 7:00 p.m. Central time, and you can either watch the action on Fox Sports North or listen to it on KFAN-AM 1130. Sadly, this is the only one of the Wolves' three games this week that will have any sort of local television coverage.</p>
<p>(Am I reading the standings right? Out of the Wolves' first 31 games, they've only played at home 12 times so far? That seems a bit. . .I don't know. . .unbalanced to me.)</p>
<p>Minnesota's second game of the week will see the Wolves hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a>. Denver leads the season series thus far 1-0, having squeaked out a 115-113 victory in Denver back on Dec. 18, and the Nuggets' 16-13 record is good enough to have them in third in the Northwest Division, although their record away from the Mile High City is a pretty unimpressive 4-10. This one will get underway at 7:00 p.m. Central time, and you'll be able to hear all the action on KFAN-AM 1130.</p>
<p>To conclude the week, Minnesota will host a New Year's Day tilt against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a>, who currently reside in last place in the NBA's Atlantic Division with a 9-21 record. This will be the first get together for the Nets and Timberwolves this season. New Jersey's road record this year is a dismal 3-13. You'll be able to catch this one on KFAN-AM 1130 starting at 7:00 p.m. Central time.</p>
<p>So there you have it. . .the Wolves are playing three home games this week against teams that are pretty terrible on the road overall. This might be a chance for the Wolves to get a little bit of momentum going as 2010 comes to a conclusion and we move into 2011.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/12/27/2327003/wolves-week-a-look-ahead-at-the-minnesota-timberwolves-scheduleChristopher Gates