Magic-Timberwolves Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Nov 07 2012 2:02AM

The Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves on the verge of a second consecutive loss before a big rally their last time out.

Now they're hoping for a change of fortunes against the Orlando Magic.

Minnesota tries to avoid an eighth consecutive loss to visiting Orlando, which could be without injured point guard Jameer Nelson again Wednesday night.

One day after falling 105-86 at Toronto, Minnesota (2-1) appeared headed for another disappointing result Monday before pulling out a 107-96 road win over Brooklyn thanks to a huge fourth-quarter surge. The Timberwolves, who outscored the Nets 32-10 over the final 12 minutes, trailed by as many as 22 points, marking their largest comeback in 15 seasons.

Minnesota shot a season-best 49.4 percent from the field and outrebounded Brooklyn 46-30. Nikola Pekovic recorded 21 points while Andrei Kirilenko scored 16 to go along with 10 rebounds for his first double-double.

"The first half was a continuation of last game," Kirilenko, who added four blocks, told the team's official website. "We had a lack of focus. But in the second half, we just talked to each other and did not worry about the losing quarter. We had to just improve our game because since the beginning of the season we had good stretches and bad stretches, but we have to stay in the game with consistency."

The Timberwolves now look to snap their recent woes against the Magic. Orlando (2-1) has taken seven straight in this series by an average of 17.1 points while limiting Minnesota to 41.2 percent shooting, although Dwight Howard played in all those games.

After winning their first two contests following the departure of the three-time NBA defensive player of the year, the Magic couldn't keep up Tuesday in a 99-93 loss at Chicago.

Arron Afflalo had 28 points while E'Twaun Moore - starting in place of Nelson - scored 17. Glen Davis and Nikola Vucevic each had 16 with 10 rebounds, but Orlando couldn't hold a lead going into the final period.

"Our lull offensively gave them an opportunity to hit some shots in the fourth quarter," said Afflalo, averaging 19.2 points in his last six games against Minnesota. "It's unfortunate, because it was a game I thought we could have won."

The Magic had a chance to open 3-0 for the fourth time in franchise history but shot just 41.9 percent and got only 14 bench points after their reserves totaled 81 in the first two games.

"We can't play one-on-one basketball," first-year coach Jacque Vaughn said. "When we shared the basketball we got good looks. But when we turn it into a one-on-one contest, we're not going to get good looks."

Getting Nelson back would surely give Orlando a boost, but the nine-year veteran is listed as day to day after missing his second straight game Tuesday with a strained right hamstring and groin.

Slowing down Kirilenko could prove key for the Magic. He's averaged 14.0 points against Orlando in his career, his second-highest mark against any opponent.

Kirilenko, who was named last season's Euroleague MVP while playing with CSKA Moscow, is averaging 14.3 points on 68.0 percent shooting for Minnesota.

Balanced Wolves drill Magic, 90-75

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Posted Nov 07 2012 11:39PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves' two stars are watching from the bench with injuries, and Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are seeing a deep team respond with some inspired defense and unselfish offense to make up the difference.

Orlando's only star is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the young Magic are starting to find out that life without Dwight Howard will definitely take some getting used to.

Luke Ridnour had 19 points and five rebounds, and Greg Stiemsma got the rout started with six straight points to end the third quarter in Minnesota's 90-75 victory over the Magic on Wednesday night.

Stiemsma finished with 12 points, five boards and two blocks, and Derrick Williams added 14 points and six boards for the Timberwolves, who are 3-1 for the first time since 2001. They led an ugly game by three points early in the third period before going on a staggering 28-6 surge that blew open the game.

"We've got a group of guys that is willing to work and wants to do the little things," Stiemsma said. "We know we're going to have to do it every night, especially now that we're a little short-handed. We're not going to make excuses and just go out and play our style."

Defense has been out of style in Minnesota for the better part of a decade. But these plucky Wolves have made it the backbone to their early success. They blocked nine shots, made 11 steals and forced 20 turnovers to overwhelm the Magic.

J.J. Redick had 16 points, but the Magic shot just 35 percent, including just 3 for 12 on 3-pointers to lose their second straight game. Arron Afflalo added 12 points for Orlando.

"I wish the rim would've opened up and that ball would've slid through it," coach Jacque Vaughn deadpanned. "That always helps."

The Wolves deserve some credit for the Magic's struggles. They contested shots, got into passing lanes and knocked driving Magic players to the floor to help them withstand an 0-for-11 start to the second quarter in which they scored just 13 points.

That's the way it has to be without Rubio and Love. The Wolves were hoping to stay afloat thanks to a soft opening to the schedule, and they couldn't have asked for much better than this. They began the season with a sluggish win over Sacramento, dropped a game in Toronto and then surprised the Brooklyn Nets with a big comeback on Monday night before burying the Magic in the final 14 minutes.

"Our defense has to be consistent every night," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said.

The Wolves and Magic were both awful in the second quarter, combining to miss their first 19 shots and turning the ball over virtually every other trip down the court.

Redick missed his first six shots from the field before getting going in the third, with his jumper off a screen cutting Minnesota's lead to 62-55 with just over a minute to play.

That's when Stiemsma took over. He scored the final six points of the period, then added a jumper to start the fourth, and the Wolves were off and running.

Despite the trade of Howard to the Lakers, the Magic got off to a surprisingly strong start in Vaughn's first season. They beat Denver and Phoenix to open the season, then had a narrow loss at Chicago on Tuesday night. Afflalo, Glen Davis and Redick had the offense humming at 103.3 points a game and shooting nearly 49 percent from 3-point range.

That started to ground to a halt against the Bulls on Tuesday night, and it slammed hard into the wall in Minnesota. Davis was just 2 for 9 and Afflalo was quiet after scoring 28 the previous night.

"I'm more disappointed in tonight," Afflalo said. "We didn't have the energy level or the effort to win tonight's game."

NOTES: Wolves PG J.J. Barea left the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained left foot and did not return. The team said he would be evaluated on Thursday ... Mo Harkless made his season debut for the Magic, scoring seven points in 23 minutes. ... Chase Budinger added 10 points and Nikola Pekovic had 11 points and five rebounds for the Wolves. ... Pekovic and Magic C Nikola Vucevic were teammates on the Montenegro national team. Vucevic managed just two points and four rebounds and was bullied by the older, bigger Pekovic most of the night.

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Notebook: Timberwolves 90, Magic 75

Jim Beilby, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:24 PM - Updated Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:24 PM

THE FACTS: Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Orlando Magic 90-75 on Wednesday night. And it wasn't that close. Minnesota never trailed and built a 27-point lead before emptying its bench and giving starters a rest with a little over five minutes to play.

Luke Ridnour led the Wolves with 19 points and Greg Stiemsma came off the bench to score 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting. J. J. Redick scored

16 off the bench for the Magic.

QUOTABLE: "It was a solid win. Our guys followed the [defensive] game plan really well. They ran them off the 3-point line. Everybody was active. We had a tough second quarter shooting the ball, but we still defended well and then in the third quarter opened it up."

-- Minnesota coach Rick Adelman

THE STAT: Minnesota held Orlando to 35.0 percent from the field. Minnesota came into the game ranked seventh in scoring defense (93.7) and eighth in opponent field goal percentage (.421). Minnesota also owned the paint, outscoring the Magic 38-26.

TURNING POINT: After trailing in the first half by as many as 15, Orlando closed Minnesota's lead to five with 2:02 to play in the third quarter. From that point, Minnesota sealed the victory with a 28-6 run, 10 coming from Stiemsma.

QUOTABLE II: "First back-to-back and it is tough early in the season. Our guys really put a lot of effort out in Chicago [Tuesday night]."

-- Orlando coach Jacque Vaughn

NOTABLE: With its win, Minnesota improved to 3-1, its first 3-1 start since the 2001-02 season. All of Minnesota's three wins have been by double digits (it only had 13 double-digit wins last season).

UP NEXT: For the Wolves, Friday vs. Indiana, Saturday @ Chicago, Monday @ Dallas. For the Magic, Friday vs. Brooklyn, Sunday @ Brooklyn, Tuesday vs. New York.

• Magic: Harrington, Turkoglu
• Timberwolves: Love, Rubio

• Magic: --
• Timberwolves: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #30 John Goble, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 17121
• Duration: 2:05