3-pointer from Section 131 – Batman and Robin
Sunday, February 27: Timberwolves 126, Warriors 123
After a bit of a hiatus, I’m here to recount a glorious Wolves’ victory! It’s suspicious, isn’t it, that I failed to report on the two previous Wolves’ games Joann and I attended, and that they were both dismal defeats? (On February 5, a thirteen-point loss to the Nuggets; on February 12 a twenty-point loss to the 76ers.)
It’s suspicious alright, but it’s no coincidence.
Nevermind all that, and nevermind that the Wolves went 3-13 over the month of February. Nevermind that the Wolves held on to win the game by three after starting the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead.
They won!
Kevin Love has been the only thing Wolves’ fans have had to cheer about this year. His “double-double” streak reached 46 games tonight. He’s only 5 games shy of tying the post-merger mark held by Moses Malone. But I’m tired of it. Even he’s tired of it.
No one could ever get tired of the performance he put on last night, though. Love scored 37 points while only attempting 13 shots! That is incredible efficiency. He tied Wolves team records for free throws attempted (23) and made (18). He shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and he grabbed 23 rebounds.
Wes Johnson sealed the game with two outstanding defensive plays. Golden State trailed by one point with 13 seconds to go in the game. They ran an isolation for Monte Ellis, who is probably one of the top five players in the league in that situation. Johnson managed to stay with him without fouling and to block Ellis’ shot from behind. Then, after the Wolves pulled ahead by three (Anthony Tolliver hit two clutch free throws), Johnson was asked to guard Ellis again on an inbounds pass with 3.1 seconds to go. Again, Wes came through with a smothering defensive play to end the game. Exciting stuff to see from the rookie.
Michael Beasley got a little of his mojo back in this game. He’s been hobbled by a bad knee for more than a month now, and has seen his production fall. In this one he looked good (on offense at least), scoring 26 points, collecting 9 rebounds and 2 assists. Tonight he was Robin to Love’s Batman (yes, the roles have reversed).
I doubt any player has looked worse while dishing out 9 assists in 20 minutes than did Jonny Flynn last night. The nine assists were a career high. Unfortunately he turned the ball over 4 times and made only 1 of 4 field goal attempts.
It’s time to put the Darko Dream to bed. He got talent, we’ve seen it. But he remains an inconsistent enigma, and it’s clearer by the game that he simply is who he’s been for his entire seven-year career: below average and worse.
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