Wolves drop Denver 106-100 to snap 15-game skid

David Zalubowski, Associated Press

Wolves guard Jonny Flynn went up for a shot against Denver’s Chauncey Billups in the first quarter Sunday.

The Wolves halted their losing streak before it tied a record, rallying from as much as 17 back with a 56-36 second half.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: November 30, 2009 - 12:47 AM

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WOLVES 106, DENVER 100 Up next: 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Memphis • Target Center • TV: FSN (1130-AM)

DENVER - From the precipice of lasting infamy, the Timberwolves on Sunday plucked a stupefying 106-100 victory at Denver that ended their losing streak at 15 games, one loss away from tying a franchise record.

Until Sunday, the Wolves hadn't won since opening night, 32 days earlier.

Until Sunday, the previously 12-4 Nuggets hadn't lost in their past 17 home games, a streak that dates to last March.

So how, pray tell, did the Wolves resurrect themselves from a 17-point deficit in the first half to produce a 31-12 third quarter and a decisive second half that defeated one of only two teams unbeaten at home this season?

This from veteran forward Damien Wilkins about says it all about the Wolves' season thus far:

"We had a lot of confidence coming into the locker room at halftime. We were only down 14."

Until Sunday, third quarters had vexed the Wolves this season.

This time, they scored the second half's first 14 points and kept going without much of a stutter, let alone collapse.

"We knew Denver is the type of team, they'll let you back in the ballgame," Wolves forward Al Jefferson said. "They did."

Afterward, Nuggets coach George Karl said he "prays to the basketball gods every night" for a team that plays hard and passes the ball every night.

"My Christmas wish," Karl said. "We messed around with this game."

Wolves coach Kurt Rambis adjusted his starting lineup by inserting Wilkins for big man Ryan Hollins and moving Ryan Gomes to power forward, because he wanted to match Wilkins and Gomes against Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin.

Gomes took his man outside and scored a season-high 27 points. Wilkins set a career high for rebounds in his fourth career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Both defended Anthony, the league's leading scorer (30.6 points) who scored 19 points in the first quarter alone and then had just four points in the next two quarters.

The Wolves led by as many as 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, then led by as few as four with as little as three minutes left, but Corey Brewer's three-point play and a couple of late Wilkins free throws kept the Nuggets away.

"It's big for us," Rambis said. "But in their grand scheme of things, in their long season and where they're going as a playoff team, it's one tiny little drop in an ocean for them."

When it was all over, the Wolves walked off the court after shaking hands in what was, given the state of things, a muted celebration.

"Shoot, it's just one win," Jefferson said.

Remember, this is a team that felt confident ... because it was only down 14 points at halftime?

"Hey, let me tell you, what've we been down going into halftime recently?" Wilkins said. "We came in here tonight with a different type of energy. ... Tonight, everybody said let's go get it. Compared to some of those other games, 14 felt like three tonight."

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