Timberwolves-Wizards Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 07 2012 4:04PM

The Minnesota Timberwolves have fared well against some of the better teams in the league, but that hasn't been the case when facing clubs that won't be contending for the championship.

That could be good news for the winless Washington Wizards.

The Timberwolves will try to avoid a third consecutive loss Sunday when the lowly Wizards go for their eighth straight home win in this series.

Since snapping a nine-game home losing streak to Dallas and defeating San Antonio for the first time in 17 tries, Minnesota (2-5) has lost to Memphis - which was without injured forward Zach Randolph - and Cleveland.

The Timberwolves, who challenged Miami and Oklahoma City last month before losing by a combined six points, also fell 98-95 to struggling Milwaukee on Dec. 27.

"We can't just come to play against the NBA championship contenders," rookie forward Derrick Williams said Friday after scoring 12 points in a 98-87 home loss to the Cavs. "We've got to come to play against everybody we play."

Michael Beasley sprained his right foot late in Friday's contest and is expected to miss this stretch of three games in three days, meaning Williams will likely see plenty of action.

Wizards big men Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee will have enough to worry about with Kevin Love. The fourth-year forward is averaging 26.1 points and 14.9 rebounds with a league-high seven double-doubles.

Love averaged 27.5 points and 16.0 boards as these teams split two meetings in 2010-11 for the second straight season. He had 20 points and 21 rebounds in a 103-96 loss at the Verizon Center on March 5.

Minnesota, which has played a league-low one road game, has not won in the nation's capital since Dec. 12, 2003.

Washington (0-7), though, is the only NBA team still searching for its first win - in fact, every other club has at least two victories. The Wizards' worst-ever start continued Friday with a 99-96 home loss to the New York Knicks.

There was some improvement, however, as Washington enjoyed an uncharacteristically quick start, leading 32-18 after 12 minutes. It was the highest-scoring quarter of the season for the Wizards, who had been outscored by nine or more in the first period of four of their previous five games.

"We played hard. We played with good energy," said coach Flip Saunders, the former Timberwolves coach.

Forwards Chris Singleton and Trevor Booker have been particularly strong off the Wizards' bench over the last two games, combining for 35 points and 24 rebounds.

Washington guards Nick Young (24 points) and John Wall (22) both had their best offensive performances of the season Friday, shooting a combined 19 for 42.

Wall paced the Wizards with 32 points, 18 assists and 15 boards versus Minnesota in 2010-11 as Young missed the home win with the flu.

Luke Ridnour has started each game at point guard for the Timberwolves, but Ricky Rubio is among the league leaders with 27.7 minutes per game off the bench. The Spanish rookie is scoring 9.4 points per game with a team-high 6.7 assists.

Minnesota's other point guard, J.J. Barea, is questionable after missing the last three games with a strained right hamstring.

Washington's last eight-game skid was Jan. 24-Feb. 5.

Timberwolves win 93-72 to keep Wizards winless

By JOSEPH WHITE
Posted Jan 08 2012 5:25PM

WASHINGTON (AP) There's no telling how different the Washington Wizards would be if they had drafted Ricky Rubio when they had the chance. Surely they couldn't be any worse than what they are now: a winless team running out of ways to express its humiliation.

Rubio and Kevin Love controlled the game in the 93-72 win for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, while the Wizards were showered with boos during a 12-point fourth quarter as they dropped to 0-8.

"There's really not much to say," Washington coach Flip Saunders said. "Disappointment. Embarrassment. I don't know if words can explain. My job over the next two days is to try to find five guys who can play the right way and can play with some heart. ... It was bad to watch. It was bad to coach. It was bad to play."

Added forward Andray Blatche: "It's frustrating. It's sickening. Embarrassing. They booed us; we deserved it. I don't know what to say."

The Timberwolves selected Rubio with the No. 5 overall pick in 2009, a selection they acquired from the Wizards for guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller. Foye and Miller are long gone from Washington, while Minnesota waited patiently for Rubio to play two more years in Spain before making his impact as a rookie this season.

Rubio had 13 points, a career-high 14 assists - one fewer than the entire Wizards team - and six rebounds Sunday, controlling the game during much of his 30 minutes off the bench. He entered with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter and quickly hit a 22-foot jump shot to start a 17-2 run that gave Minnesota the lead for good.

"We're happy to have him now," said Love, who had 20 points and 16 rebounds. "Today's just an example of how good he is - and how good he can be. Who's to say? He's still working on his jump shot. He's still working on his game."

The Timberwolves opened their first set of three games in three days without forward Michael Beasley, who will miss all three after spraining his right foot during Friday night's loss to Cleveland.

Nick Young and Trevor Booker scored 14 points apiece to lead the Wizards, who extended their franchise-worst start to a season by scoring their fewest points since Feb. 21, 2009. Washington has already lost four games by 18 or more points.

John Wall again struggled with his shot, going 3 for 10 from the field - and that included two dunks. Blatche was 5 for 16, and Jordan Crawford went 3 for 11 to contribute to Washington's 34 percent shooting.

Rubio said the scouting on the Wizards was that "they play a lot of 1-on-1." He might be a rookie, but he knows what's he talking about.

"We tend to panic when we get down by seven to nine points," Blatche said, "and everybody wants to be the guy to get those nine points back."

Owner Ted Leonsis took it all in from his front-row seat, and there are now inevitable questions as to how long he or team president Ernie Grunfeld can wait before making some sort of change. Saunders wants the players to re-examine their approach, and he plans to do the same.

"I'm going to go home tonight and I'm going to say as a coach, `What can I do to get us better?' Because evidently right now I haven't done a good enough job," Saunders said. "Because we're not totally getting through to some guys."

Saunders said the players aren't doing their homework, even though the coaches are emailing extensive scouting reports the day before every game.

"Flip, definitely, he's doing his job," Blatche said. "I don't feel like everybody's listening and following behind what he says and what he wants us to do."

Wall said it's becoming a matter of self-esteem.

"It's a pride game now, to start this bad," Wall said. "It's nothing but pride to see if you've got the heart to play."

Rubio, meanwhile, has to be overjoyed that he isn't wearing Wizards red.

"Minnesota was the team that drafted me. I don't want to think anything else," the rookie said before the game. "They were the ones who trusted me. I'm so glad that they did."

NOTES: With Beasley out, Wesley Johnson started at forward and Wayne Ellington moved into the starting lineup at guard. ... Wizards F Rashard Lewis sat out with a sore right knee, giving rookie Chris Singleton his first start. ... Washington first-round pick Jan Vesely, making his debut after not playing the first seven games with a hip injury, shot an air ball on his first NBA free throw attempt and finished with two points in nine minutes. ... Minnesota G J.J. Barea sat out for the first fifth time in six games with a strained left hamstring.

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Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Notebook: Timberwolves 93, Wizards 72

By Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 8, 2012 5:39PM

THE FACTS: Kevin Love had 20 points and 16 rebounds and Ricky Rubio had 13 points, a career-high 14 assists and six rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over the winless Washington Wizards 93-72 on Sunday afternoon.

Playing without Michael Beasley, who will miss at least three games with a right midfoot sprain, six Timberwolves scored in double figures. Rookie Derrick Williams had 14, Wayne Ellington and Luke Ridnour had 13. Anthony Tolliver had 11.

Washington is 0-8, and lost by 21 -- its largest margin this season. The 72 points were a season low. Trevor Booker and Nick Young led the Wizards with 14 points. Washington played without Rashard Lewis, who was scratched with a sore right knee.

QUOTABLE: "I'm going to go home tonight and I'm going to say what I can do as a coach to get us better because evidently right now I haven't done a good enough job. That's evident because we're not totally getting through to some guys, and some guys continue to play the way they want to play and not the way that we need to play as a team."
-- Wizards coach Flip Saunders on his team's 0-8 start

THE STAT: Minnesota outscored Washington by 29 points when Rubio and Williams were in the game.

TURNING POINT: When Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman put Rubio and Williams in the game with 1:30 to play in the first quarter, the Wizards led 17-13. Minnesota went on a 17-2 run to lead by 11. Washington never got within six again.

QUOTABLE II: "They booed us tonight. We deserved it."
-- Washington F Andray Blatche on the crowd reaction to the Wizards' performance

HOT: Ridnour was 6-for-10, and Ellington was 5-for-8 from the field.

NOT: John Wall's season-long shooting woes continued. He shot just 3-for-10, and two of his three field goals were dunks. He hasn't shot 50 percent in any game this season.

GOOD MOVE: Adelman allowing Rubio and Williams to play 30 of the final 38 minutes. "Today's just an example of how good he is, and how good he can be. Who's to say? He's still working on his jump shot. He's still working on his game."
-- Love about playing with Rubio

BAD MOVE: Wizards rookie Jan Vesely shooting free throws. In his first NBA game, his first free throw was an air ball, and his second barely hit the rim. He scored one basket -- on a dunk.

NOTABLE: Washington's 72 points were its fewest since Feb. 21, 2009, and they scored just 12 points in the fourth quarter.

IN THE ARENA: The attendance was 13,095, and many heavily booed the Wizards when the Timberwolves opened a 21-point lead.

NEXT: Timberwolves: Monday @ Raptors, Tuesday vs. Bulls, Friday @ Hornets. Wizards: Tuesday vs. Raptors, Wednesday @ Bulls, Friday @ Sixers.

• Timberwolves: Miller, Webster
• Wizards: N'Diaye, Turiaf

• Timberwolves: --
• Wizards: Booker

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #57 Greg Willard, #63 Derek Richardson, #47 Bennie Adams
• Attendance: 13095
• Duration: 2:03