Consecutive Ws for Wolves

Question: How many times have the Wolves won consecutive games this season?

Answer: Five times, after a Friday-Saturday win combo out East (Orlando, Memphis).

By comparison to other teams with 23 victories or fewer: Miami has won consecutive games once; Memphis twice; the Clippers three times (but just once after starting the season 4-0); and Seattle and New York four times each.

The young Wolves have 21 wins on the season - the second fewest in the Western Conference and third fewest in the NBA - but have amassed 17 of those Ws since Jan. 8.

The first time the Timberwolves won on successive eves didn't come until Jan. 21 and 23, at Golden State and in Target Center against Phoenix. Then they did it again on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, with the Bulls and Clippers in Minnesota. The first road back-to-back wins came at Sacramento and L.A. (Clippers) on March 7 and 8, before the Clippers were again the first victim on March 17 (at home), followed by another home win over Memphis on March 19.

The Wolves' latest effort included an outstanding 102-101 final-seconds victory at the East's No. 3 seed Orlando on Friday, followed by a 114-105 decision over the Grizzlies on Saturday. The point that Minnesota is playing better ball than it was early this season is further elucidated by this stat:

2007-08 Timberwolves, 20-Game Intervals
1st 20 Games - 3 wins, 17 losses
2nd 20 Games - 3 wins, 17 losses
3rd 20 Games - 6 wins, 14 losses
4th 20 Games - 9 wins, 11 losses

After the Orlando game, in which the Wolves fell behind by 14 points early as the Magic opened 9-for-13 from three, head coach Randy Wittman praised how far his squad has come.

"That’s where this team has kind of developed some things," said Wittman. "Earlier in the year we did do that and we put our heads down. We kind of fought through in the second half of the year and I think all the guys learned that it’s a long game. Momentum can change so quickly in this and you just have to give yourself a chance. That’s what we did."

Of course, the Wolves are about as far as possible from a playoff spot, which can certainly afflict apathy onto the court with certain teams. Not just that, but at least a handful of people are pulling for more lottery balls ... you know ... tanking.

Though not without exception, Minnesota has largely managed to stay focused on getting Ws.

"We’re not in the playoffs but I want these guys to think, coming down the stretch, of games you need to win," Wittman continued. "And we’ve done that. A lot of these guys, it’s their first time being in this position, and I give them credit. Sometimes it’s hard playing these last three or four games knowing when you don’t have anything at the end.”

After the impressive effort near Disney World, the Wolves found a stable of energy that Memphis couldn't match. Minnesota's effort was exemplified by four players' notching at least 10 rebounds - Ryan Gomes, Kirk Snyder, Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer. In fact, the Wolves came within one board of matching the franchise high (63), including 24 on the offensive glass.

“We kept the momentum from last night’s fourth quarter," said Randy Foye, who scored a combined 41 points on the weekend to pace the Wolves. "On nights like that you just keep on going. I wish we played tomorrow with how much momentum we got in tonight."

The Wolves will find out if the momentum carries over two off days when the team heads to Detroit Tuesday for its final road game of the season, before Wednesday's season finale against Milwaukee at Target Center.