GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: MINNESOTA (3-19) at MIAMI (6-17)

NBA: MINNESOTA (3-19) at MIAMI (6-17)

<h3>Cellar-dwelling Timberwolves, Heat look for rare win</h3>

Minnesota (3-19) at Miami (6-17) 7:30 pm EST


MIAMI (Ticker) -- Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heatknew the early part of the season would be challenging as theyadjusted to new personnel. Neither team likely expected itwould be this tough.


The two teams with the worst records in the NBA try to improvetheir win totals when the Timberwolves visit the Heat on Monday.

After an offseason of change - headlined by the trade offranchise superstar Kevin Garnett to Boston - Minnesotaoverhauled most of its roster in an effort to rebuild around AlJefferson.


However, the Timberwolves have had little time to blend withmultiple injuries, leading to an offense that is averaging just92.8 points per game (fifth-worst in the league) and a defensethat is struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard (101.1points per game).


As a result, the Timberwolves - who are on a four-game skid -have already endured three five-game losing streaks this season.

The Timberwolves struggled through an awful third quarterSaturday en route to their third straight loss, a 95-92 setbackto the Milwaukee Bucks.


Craig Smith scored 30 points and Jefferson added 23 and 15rebounds for Minnesota, which managed just 16 points in thethird quarter.


The Heat had their own personnel changes to overcome, missingstar Dwyane Wade for the first seven games of the season due toknee and shoulder surgeries and integrating guard Ricky Davisinto the lineup after he came over in a trade from Minnesota.

While Wade and Davis are averaging nearly 38 points per game,the Heat are off the their worst 23-game start since 2002-03 - aseason in which they finished 25-57 - and the season beforethey selected Wade.


Miami has dropped seven of its last nine games, includingSaturday's 106-103 setback to the Indiana Pacers.


Wade scored 24 points and dished out nine assists for the Heat,who fell to 2-8 at home.

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT MIAMI - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


MINNESOTA MIAMI

F Michael Doleac F Udonis Haslem
F Corey Brewer F Dorell Wright
C Al Jefferson C Shaquille O'Neal
G Marko Jaric G Jason Williams
G Sebastian Telfair G Dwyane Wade

OFFICIALS: Bob Delaney
Derrick Stafford
Benny Adams</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA VS MIAMI - INACTIVES

MINNESOTA MIAMI

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
T RATLIFF KNEE INJURY S PARKER COACH'S DECISION
G BUCKNER CALF INJURY A JOHNSON COACH'S DECISION
R FOYE KNEE INJURY J ANTHONY COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 5
MIAMI 5 8:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 10
MIAMI 12 5:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 14
MIAMI 20 2:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 24
MIAMI 27 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 24 24
MIAMI 27 27 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

MIN - AL JEFFERSON 9, RASHAD MCCANTS 8,
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 5
MIA - JASON WILLIAMS 7, UDONIS HASLEM 7,
DWYANE WADE 4</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 30
MIAMI 31 8:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 34
MIAMI 33 5:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 41
MIAMI 37 2:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 47
MIAMI 41 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 24 23 47
MIAMI 27 14 41 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

MIN - RASHAD MCCANTS 13, AL JEFFERSON 13,
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 9
MIA - UDONIS HASLEM 9, DWYANE WADE 8, JASON
WILLIAMS 7</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 51
MIAMI 48 8:21 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 53
MIAMI 52 5:37 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 58
MIAMI 52 2:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 64
MIAMI 60 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 24 23 17 64
MIAMI 27 14 19 60 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

MIN - AL JEFFERSON 18, SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 14,
RASHAD MCCANTS 13
MIA - DWYANE WADE 16, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 11,
UDONIS HASLEM 11</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 66
MIAMI 65 8:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 72
MIAMI 70 5:54 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>