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Trailing by double-digits and trying to avoid losing four straight to the Spurs, frustration was bound to occur for the Timberwolves. Tonight, during the third quarter Minnesota exceeded its boiling point as five technical fouls were called on the Wolves within seconds. First, it started with Corey Brewer and Darko Milicic, then head coach Kurt Rambis got tossed after two in a row, and finally Kevin Love had to add his own insight for good measure to end a sequence of absurdity.
Manu Ginobili then calmly proceeded to knock down all five three-throws as the Spurs pushed the lead to 73-62.
With little to no energy inside Target Center, the madness surrounding the plethora of technical fouls provided the Wolves with an essential spark as the ambition noticeably changed with assistant coach Bill Laimbeer taking over the controls. Behind avid fan support, Love responded with a three-pointer to bring the deficit to single-digits, but the Spurs stayed poised and controlled the lead for the remainder of the contest.
San Antonio’s effective pick-and-roll offense often left an open man as the Wolves scrambled to defend the potent attack. The Spurs had six players in double figures, including Ginobili who scored 19.
Michael Beasley was off tonight and lacked explosiveness as he played through a sore ankle, only finishing with 7 points on 3-of-11 shooting. With the leading scorer struggling to contribute, the Wolves lacked the offensive repertoire needed to beat the league’s top team as they dropped their fifth straight.
Leader of the Pack:
Kevin Love continues to prove to be a valid candidate for the All-Star game, scoring 20 points and hauling in 20 rebounds. Love’s consistent numbers are simply remarkable. Love recorded his 25th consecutive double-double and league-leading 34th of the season. The young superstar provided the Wolves with an unmatchable, gritty effort, which unfortunately did not catch on with the rest of the squad. Notable Performances:
Luke Ridnour continued his solid play at the point, recording 18 points and 9 assists.