WASHINGTON – There are certain things upon which Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau insists, one of which is urging his players never to look forward or back and instead concentrate only on the next game.
That doesn't mean he doesn't watch scores from across the Western Conference as they come in nightly.
Nor does he want his players to ignore what's happening around them in an uber-competitive chase for the final five playoff spots in the West.
"It's important not to get lost, but also understand what's in front of you," Thibodeau said. "This is your business, so you want to be aware. Everyone is watching games. You want to know what's going on in the league. It's part of studying and knowing your opponent well."
The Wolves won their second consecutive game with Tuesday's fourth-quarter comeback at Washington that followed a Sunday afternoon home victory over defending NBA champion Golden State.
They rallied from 10 points behind with fewer than 10 minutes to go to beat the Wizards on a night when rivals Oklahoma City, New Orleans, San Antonio, Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers all won as well. The only team in pursuit of playoff spots three through eight that lost: Denver.
"We watch every night," Wolves veteran forward Taj Gibson said. "You try to go hard to win your game and then watch the scores around. You're either like, 'Yes!' or 'Oh, man, c'mon.' But you can't depend on any other team to help you win. You go out there and do the best you can with the schedule you've got."
Rough stretch nearing end
The schedule dealt the Wolves has them headed to San Antonio for a Saturday game, their sixth in a daunting eight-game stretch. By the time it ends Tuesday, they'll have played at Portland, Utah, Washington and San Antonio and faced Boston, Golden State, Houston and the Clippers at home.