Clippers Slip by Timberwolves
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Recovering from a bothersome foot injury, Corey Maggette returned to the Los Angeles Clippers lineup and poured in 21 points, including the game winner, to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 92-91, at Target Center.

The loss snapped a four-game Minnesota winning streak and gave the Clippers only their fifth road win in 18 games.

Maggette was given the chance to score the deciding basket when, with only seconds remaining in the game and Los Angeles trailing by 91-90, teammate (and fellow Duke alumus) Elton Brand picked up a loose ball on the Clipper end and passed it to Magette, who scored from 16 feet out.

With 4.8 seconds showing on the clock, Minnesota still had a chance to win, but after the Wolves inbounded from midcourt, Kevin Garnett missed a fadeaway jump shot at the buzzer. “We’ll take that shot every time,” mused Dwayne Casey, Timberwolves coach, “I’ll live and die with it.”

The contest matched a pair of teams not exactly sitting on the cusp of NBA greatness. The Clippers entered the game with a 16-19 record, while Minnesota’s record stood at 17 wins and 15 losses. As may be expected from the matching of the two teams, the game was not quite an artistic success. Both teams experienced possession sequences marked by undisciplined play and lack of concern for the fundamentals of the game. Quick shots were taken with open men frequently ignored. A veteran Los Angeles newspaperman in the media section remarked: “This is like a pickup game at the YMCA!”

No matter how out of control the Clippers played offensively, the Timberwolves were unable to capitalize with anything resembling a consistent defensive effort. Los Angeles led 24-18 at the end of the first quarter and 47-46 at the half. Maggette came off the bench to lead the Clippers in scoring with 13 points. Minnesota center Mark Blount betrayed his lachrymose appearance and aggressively led the Timberwolves with a dozen first-half points.

Play tightened up somewhat in the second half; however, neither team gave the impression of executing any set plays. Players relied on their one-on-one skills and gave little attention to teamwork. In addition, the Wolves’ Ricky Davis added to his reputation of never having met a shot he didn’t like, launching 20 attempts in 44 minutes of playing time.

Even coach Casey, not known as a control freak, expressed concern about the lack of concentration shown by his team. “We can’t come out if we are at home and think things will take care of themselves,” he said. The Timberwolves had enough talent to defeat the Clippers. But all the talent didn’t show up for the game. The game stats showed that Mike James was on the floor for more than 20 minutes. He might as well have been invisible, contributing zero points. Rookies Randy Foye and Craig Smith played erratically, and the only strong bench contribution came from, of all people, guard Bracey Wright.

For many observers, Wright’s presence on the roster has been a mystery. Casey must see something in the former Indiana University star because he kept Wright on the roster yet played him in only one of the Wolves’ first 26 games. With the game on the line, Casey played Wright for 9 minutes and 41 seconds of the fourth quarter against Los Angeles, ignoring the presence on the bench of veteran guard Troy Hudson, now officially buried in the back of the Casey doghouse.

Wright contributed six points, and the Timberwolves played even with the Clippers, taking a 89-88 lead after a Foye free throw. Foye, however, missed his second free throw attempt, which later set up Maggette’s heroics.

During the course of the game Maggette was able to take advantage of several Timberwolves’ foolish fouls and hit on 11 of 11 attempts from the free-throw line. He finished with 21 points. Davis led Minnesota with 24 points, followed by Blount with 21, and Garnett with 19. The Timberwolves’ bench was outscored by that of the Clippers by 34 to 11.

The defensive lapses and lack of team play displayed by the Timberwolves was eclipsed only by the unprofessional behavior of the team’s public address announcer who, at crunch time, bellowed into his microphone: “What we need is some serious noise! Get up, let’s hear it!” What the fans really need is a p.a. announcer who provides information, rather than a shameless cheerleader willing to make an ass of himself.

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