I know there is a lot of competition, but I wonder if this wasn't the worst Wolves loss of the season. Up 10 at the half against Boston, up 13 entering the fourth…..
And, boom. Boston scored the first 17 points of the fourth quarter and never looked back. The fourth quarter is the new third quarter for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It's kind of amazing that a team can lose when having a 12-rebound edge on its opponent, a 58-34 edge in the paint and a 17-8 edge on second-chance points.
With that in mind, here are a few final thoughts on tonight's 99-93 loss to Boston.
--Here, first, is a very slight silver lining. This time, at least offensively, the Wolves didn't fall into dysfunction when things went haywire. This time the Wolves kept moving the ball and actually got a lot of very good, open looks at three pointers. Unfortunately, only 1 of 11 went in in the fourth quarter. Zach LaVine was 0-for-5 on three-pointers in the quarter. "I'm really disappointed in myself,'' he said.
--For the second straight game Andrew Wiggins faced some very good perimeter defense and struggled. After being shut down by Memphis Saturday, Wiggins went 5-for-18 tonight, 0-for-5 on three-pointers with just four rebounds and one assist in nearly 40 minutes of playing time.
--Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. It was his seventh double-double of the year and his fifth career game with 25 or more points and 15 or more rebounds. And it went for naught. For the record: He didn't go quietly in the fourth, scoring six of the team's 12 points.
--Remember when the Wolves were great three-point shooters? Tonight: 4-for-24. Those players not named Karl-Anthony Towns were a combined 2-for-20.
