Wow, have the Timberwolves really played 6 games under Ryan Saunders already? It seems so. And now they're 3-3 in the new regime after holding off Phoenix 116-114 at home Sunday night. Karl Towns and Derek Rose saved the bacon with 61 points between them. Towns added 12 boards and 4 assists, Rose 4 and 3.
Phoenix led most of the way and still led 91-80 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd, when the Wolves started to rally. By the end of the 3rd they were within 96-91, then they opened the 4th with a pair of 3s by Anthony Tolliver and Dario Saric to take a 97-96 lead. Jarod Bayless added a 2 and Derek Rose a pair of 2s and suddenly it was 103-96 (a 23-5 run for the Wolves). But soon it was tied up again at 106, and then the Suns went back ahead 110-106, 112-108 and 114-111 at 1:45 (an 18-8 run for Phoenix).
But, from there Phoenix missed a FT and a 3 and then turned it over on their last 2 possessions. The Wolves took advantage with a dunk by Taj Gibson, and a throw by Rose to tie it at 30 seconds, and finally a step-back 2 by Rose to win it at 0:00.9.
Still, the Wolves are treading water 3-3 under Saunders, 5-5 in their last 10, and now they're 22-24, 11th in the west and 2 games out of the playoffs with 3 teams to pass just to get to #8. The Wolves have played well as an underdog, forgetting than non-game in Philly, anyway, but they haven't played well against weaker opponents, like the Suns. Now they get the Suns in Phoenix tonight, a winnable game. Obviously they'll have to play better than they did on Sunday.
Player of the Day--Karl Towns
Team of the Day--Timberwolves
Coach of the Day--Ryan Saunders
No comments:
Post a Comment