Foye: We need to 'step it up now'

Jeffrey Thompson, Dml - Star Tribune Star Tribune

Randy Foye, Kevin McHale

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: March 8, 2009 - 11:49 PM

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After his potential game-winning three-pointer missed by a fraction at Saturday's final buzzer, Timberwolves guard Randy Foye buried his head in assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff's chest on the sideline in Portland's Rose Garden.

Then he looked ahead, to this week's homestand against four opponents with losing records.

At this point, it's about all Foye and his teammates have left.

Saturday's 95-93 loss to the Trail Blazers was the Wolves'ninth consecutive defeat, their 14th in the past 16 games, their 17th in 19. With 19 games remaining, if the Wolves expect to build any momentum toward another season -- at least avoid a freefall into 2009-2010 -- it probably will have to start with these games against Washington, Memphis, New York and Charlotte.

After that, the Wolves play six of seven away from home, including games at playoff-bound San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland and Atlanta.

"We have to step it up now and take advantage of the opportunity," said Foye, whose team plays the 14-49 Wizards tonight. "We didn't do it last week."

The Wolves' past three victories -- dating to late January -- all have been away from Target Center.

Their last home victory? Jan. 25 against Chicago. That's nine consecutive home losses since then. This week's games end a schedule stretch in which the Wolves play eight of 10 at home. They've already dropped the first four, to Utah, Portland, Houston and Golden State.

"It's our time to do something right now," Foye said. "I think we've got 19 left, right? We need to finish the season up strong now so we can all hold our heads high."

To the finish

The Wolves trailed by nine with fewer than six minutes left Saturday, then made it a contest with a late 9-2 run. Trailing by two points after Brandon Roy missed the second of two free throws with eight seconds left, the Wolves called timeout and coach Kevin McHale called for his team to go for the victory with a three-pointer.

Foye got an open look just before time expired. His shot hit the back of the rim and bounced far away.

"It felt so good when it left my hand, the follow-through and everything," said Foye, who played 31 minutes and scored 23 points after missing Friday's game at Los Angeles because of a hip contusion. "I just knew it was going in. I missed the shot. I can't hold my head. I got a good look at it."

Parting words

• Wolves rookie Kevin Love on Travis Outlaw's soaring putback dunk over him that gave the Blazers a four-point lead with 1:23 left: "That guy's a freak, man. That's all I can say. That was a great dunk."

• Foye on his drive to the basket that preceded Outlaw's dunk and ended with Foye on the floor and McHale screaming for a foul that never came: "That was upsetting."

• Blazers center Joel Przybilla on Roy, who again beat the team that drafted him with 31 points: "Luckily, Brandon's on our team."

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