Wolves vs. Wizards: Inside the Numbers

We take you through the numbers game from Minnesota’s 105-89 home loss to the Wizards Friday night.

Team offense

- Wolves 19 (NBA Rank): The Wolves are averaging 96.8 points per game. Friday’s posting of 89 falls below that figure. Minnesota did, however, amass 74 after three.
- Wizards 24 (NBA Rank): The Wizards surpassed their season average of 93.7 thanks in large part to a big fourth quarter in which they put up 34.

Team defense

- Wolves 24: Minnesota held Washington to 71 points after the end of three and was on pace to hold the Wizards below their season average of 102.8, but a fourth quarter slump and hot Washington shooting (61.9 percent in the fourth) hurt Minnesota's cause.
- Wizards 20: For three quarters, it appeared as though the Wolves would hold the Wizards below Minnesota's season average, but a fourth-quarter Wizards scoring spree erased that thought.

Three ball

- Wolves 5: The Wolves shooting from behind the arc fell below their traditional shooting from long range. Minnesota drained 37.5 percent of its attempts, just shy of its season average of 39 percent.
- Wizards 30: Washington went on a second half hot streak from deep, knocking down seven treys, and shot better from downtown (38.9 percent) than its league-worst 26 percent.

Rebounding margin

- Wolves 20: Through three quarters, both teams had grabbed 28 boards and the Wolves had managed eight second chance points, compared to four for Washington. Minnesota finished with 36 rebounds, five shy of their average.
- Wizards 3: It was a quiet night on the boards for both teams, as the Wizards also didn't match their average. Washington did managed 12 second chance points, all in the second half.

Free throw disparity

- Wolves 29: On Wednesday (108-103 victory over Sacramento), the Wolves, for the first time, shot more free throws than their opponent. A common theme thus far for the Wolves has been not getting to the line as often as they would like. Minnesota, however, did shoot eight more free throws (27 attempts) than its season average of 19 and also shot one more free throw than Washington.
- Wizards 3: Washington shot 26 free throws, four below its season average. The Wolves put the Wizards in the bonus with 4:40 remaining, and Washington capitalized on freebies down the stretch.

Foul trouble

- Wolves 2: For the first time on Wednesday (108-103 victory over Sacramento), Minnesota committed fewer personal fouls than the opposition. On Friday, the Wolves were charged with 25 fouls, three below their season average.
- Wizards 15: The Wolves drew 21 Washington fouls, one below the Wizards' season average.

The big guns

- Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler: All three led Washington (Butler 29, Arenas 27, Jamison 14), and again proved why the triple-threat is so dangerous.
- Wolves' Al Jefferson, Rashad McCants: Jefferson had a quiet 15 and 10, good for his sixth consecutive double-double to start the year, and McCants, despite foul trouble, contributed with 19 points and six boards.