<div align="center"> <font size="6">@</font> </div> <div align="center">Houston Rockets (26-21) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (24-22) Game #47 Home Game #24 Target Center, February 4, 2005 at 8:30 PM CST</div> SEASON RESULTS AGAINST OPPONENT: 2004-05 vs. Houston (1-0) Thursday, Nov. 11 at Houston W96-91 Garnett 20 Yao 25 Friday, Feb. 4 at Minnesota Sunday, Mar. 20 at Minnesota The Wolves and Rockets split four meetings a year ago, the fourth straight season they've finished 2-2. The Mar. 29 victory ended Minnesota's four-game losing streak in Houston, a slide dating to a 90-88 triumph on Nov. 3, 2001 at the Compaq Center. The Rockets hold a 38-28 lead all-time; Minnesota is 18-15 at home. First Meeting: Kevin Garnett narrowly missed a triple-double (20 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists) and Eddie Griffin sank the go-ahead 3-pointer to help the Timberwolves down Houston, 96-91, on Nov. 11 at the Toyota Center. Sam Cassell netted 18 points for Minnesota, while Griffin chipped in 11. Yao Ming's 25 points topped the Rockets, with Maurice Taylor contributing 19 and Jim Jackson scoring 13. <font color="Teal"><div align="center">Minnesota Timberwolves</div> STREAKS: Overall: Lost 3 Home: Lost 2 Road: Lost 1 (Last 10 games: 5-5) Southwest record overall:5-3 (.625) Home:2-2 (.500) Road:3-1 (.750) COACH'S BIO: PHIL "FLIP" SAUNDERS Overall Record: 410-322 Record with Minnesota: 410-322 Playoff Record: 17-30 Record with Minnesota: 17-30 Seasons in League: 10th Seasons with Minnesota: 10th Probable Starters: Forward: Latrell Sprewell 12.6PPG 2.5RPG 2.1APG Last Two Games: Came off the bench for 7 points (3-12 FG, 0-3 3FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, a team-high 6 assists and 1 steal in 32 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Tallied 24 points (8-20 FG, 5-11 3FG, 3-3 FT) -- 19 in the 1st quarter -- with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 32 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Notable: His five treys at Milwaukee tied a season best; the Wolves are 17-8 when he hits a three-pointer. Forward: Kevin Garnett 22.4PPG 14.30RPG 6.0APG Last Two Games: Finished with a season-low 12 points (6-14 FG, 0-1 3FG), a game-high 13 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Netted 15 points (7-15 FG, 1-2 FT), a game-high 13 rebounds, a game-high 7 assists and 1 steal in 38 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Notable: Shooting 55.2% (96-for-174) over the past 12 games; however, he's attempted just 47 FTs in those 12, after getting to the line 71 times in his previous seven starts. Also tallying 19.1 ppg and 11.6 rpg over the past 12 (26.4 ppg and 17.4 rpg in the prior seven). Has led Minnesota across the board (pts/reb/ast) 18 times. Center: Ervin Johnson 1.3PPG 2.5RPG 0.1APG Last Two Games: DNP-CD Wednesday vs. Phoenix, his 14th DNP-CD of the year. Did not score (0-2 FG) but registered 4 rebounds and 1 block in 16 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Guard: Trenton Hassell 5.5PPG 3.0RPG 1.6APG Last Two Games: Tallied 14 points (7-10 FG) and 1 block in 23 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Scored 10 points (5-8 FG) with 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 33 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Guard: Anthony Carter 2.6PPG 0.9RPG 1.8APG Last Two Games: Collected 8 points (4-5 FG, 0-1 FT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 13 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Logged 1 scoreless minute (0-0 FG) Tuesday at Milwaukee. Notable: Has come off the bench in his last two games, after starting the previous 10 (Minnesota was 7-3). Reserves Eddie Griffin 8.4PPG 6.5RPG 0.8APG Last Two Games: Did not score (0-2 FG, 0-2 3FG) but had 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 13 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix.Scoreless (0-4 FG, 0-3 3FG) with 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in 10 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Fred Hoiberg 5.5PPG 2.2RPG 1.0APG Last Two Games: Contributed 5 points (2-9 FG, 0-5 3FG, 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 27 inutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Had 1 point (0-0 FG, 1-1 FT) in 3 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Notable: Before Tuesday, he'd averaged 11.2 ppg and shot 65.6% (21-for-32) in his previous six outings; Troy Hudson 8.7PPG 1.2RPG 3.4APG Last Two Games: Added 11 points (5-15 FG, 1-5 3FG), 2 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Put in 5 points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3FG) with 1 rebound and 4 assists in 16 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Michael Olowokandi 4.7PPG 4.4RPG 0.4APG Last Two Games: Started and had 4 points (2-3 FG), 5 rebounds in 12 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Chipped in 4 points (2-4 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks in 25 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Wally Szczerbiak 15.9PPG 3.5RPG 2.3APG Last Two Games: Started and paced the Wolves with 16 points (7-15 FG, 2-4 3FG), adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in 36 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Collected 19 points (8-12 FG, 0-1 3FG, 3-3 FT), 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 33 minutes Tuesday at Milwaukee. Notable: Had come off the bench in 11 consecutive games before Wednesday; he's averaging 17.6 ppg and shooting 54.7% (76-for-139) off the bench, compared to 15.4 ppg (50.3%) in 35 starts. John Thomas 1.3PPG 2.0RPG 0.4APG Last Two Games: Scoreless (0-2 FG) in 9 minutes Wednesday vs. Phoenix. Logged 1 scoreless minute (0-0 FG) with 1 rebound Tuesday at Milwaukee. INJURY REPORT: Guard Sam Cassell: He's listed as questionable for tonight's game. Forward Ndudi Ebi: Placed on the Injured List on Nov. 1 with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Forward Mark Madsen: Placed on the Injured List on Jan. 10 with a fractured left thumb. BY THE NUMBERS: The Wolves are? 12-4 when scoring 100+ points 12-18 when scoring less than 100 17-7 when shooting 45%+ 7-15 when shooting less than 45% 20-9 when outshooting their foe 16-13 when outrebounding their foe or tied 9-13 when committing <16 TOs 19-4 when leading or tied after 3 quarters 9-9 in games decided by 10+ points 4-12 when allowing 100+ points 20-10 when allowing less than 100 10-13 when allowing 45%+ 14-9 when allowing less than 45% 4-13 when being outshot 8-9 when being outrebounded 5-9 when committing 16+ TOs 5-18 when trailing after 3 quarters 15-13 in games decided by <10 points Game Notes Phoenix extended the Wolves' losing streak to three on Wednesday, picking up its second win at Target Center in the last month (122-115 on Jan. 4). The final 29-point spread represents the biggest home loss for Minnesota in nearly 10 years (since a 110-78 setback vs. Indiana on Feb. 17, 1995) as well as the Wolves' biggest loss overall in three years (113-83 at San Antonio, Feb. 4, 2002). Minnesota has now endured three separate losing streaks of 3+ games since Christmas. The Wolves are 17-10 vs. Western Conference opposition, including 5-3 vs. the Southwest Division; only San Antonio (22-8), Phoenix (19-7) and Seattle (19-8) have put together better records vs. the West. Minnesota's Western success is highlighted by a 10-3 road record; they'd won seven straight in that category prior to their 96-82 defeat Dec. 23 at San Antonio. At 24-22, the Wolves are eight games in back of Seattle (31-13) in the Northwest Division; Minnesota trails Houston (26-21) by 1.5 games for the West's final playoff spot. Minnesota finished 2-for-5 from the line vs. Phoenix, tying franchise single-game record lows in both categories (Feb. 7, 1996 vs. Portland). The Wolves have totaled just 30 FTAs in their current three-game losing streak, after getting to the line 36 times last Friday vs. Utah Phoenix outrebounded the Wolves 48-39 on Wednesday, the eighth straight game Minnesota has come up short. They're facing a -6.0 rpg deficit (38.5-44.5) in those eight. Minnesota committed 18 TOs (leading to 23 points) Wednesday vs. Phoenix. The Wolves are facing a 51-27 deficit in points off TOs during their three-game losing streak, after racking up a 87-50 advantage in winning their previous five starts. Minnesota's miscues have risen to 14.2 over the last five games, on the heels of a five-game stretch at 11.2. Phoenix held the Wolves to a season-low 79 points on Wednesday; their previous low-water mark this year was 80, set Jan. 12 vs. Orlando. Minnesota's scoring has plummeted to 83.0 ppg during its current three-game losing streak. The Wolves had kept six consecutive opponents under 100 before Phoenix' 108-point outing on Wednesday. Phoenix' 48.9% effort on Wednesday is the highest percentage allowed by Minnesota since the Suns shot 53.9% in their previous Target Center visit (Jan. 4); the Wolves had kept five of their previous six opponents below 45%.</font> <font color="Red"><div align="center">Houston Rocket</div> STREAKS: Overall: Won 2 Home: Lost 1 Road: Won 2 Western record overall: 14-11 (.560) Home: 8-6 (.571) Road: 6-5 (.545) Head Coach JEFF VAN GUNDY Overall Record: 319-230 (70-58 in Houston) Seasons in League: 9th (2nd in Houston) Probable Starters Forward: Tracy McGrady 25.4PPG 6.3RPG 6.7APG LAST GAME: Scored 34 points with nine assists Wednesday at Philadelphia. Forward: Juwan Howard 8.7PPG 4.8RPG 1.3APG LAST GAME: Scored 14 points with a season-high 13 rebounds on Wednesday at Philadelphia. Center: Yao Ming 18.2PPG 8.5RPG 0.7APG LAST GAME: Scored 12 points with five rebounds on Friday vs. Sacramento. Guard: David Wesley 11.9PPG 3.2RPG 3.7APG ( Playing for Houston: 8.9PPG 3.1RPG 3.1APG) LAST GAME: Scored 11 points with four assists on Friday vs. Sacramento. Guard: Bob Sura 10.4PPG 5.8RPG 4.8APG LAST GAME: Scored 10 points with six assists Wednesday at Philadelphia. Lineup record: 10-6 Reserves Andre Barrett 2.5PPG 0.7RPG 1.5APG LAST GAME: Played one scoreless minute Wednesday at Philadelphia. Jon Barry 5.9PPG 2.1RPG 2.3APG ( Playing for Houston: 6.5PPG 2.8RPG 2.8APG) LAST GAME: Scored 12 points a season-high-tying six assists Wednesday at Philadelphia. Ryan Bowen 1.2PPG 0.9RPG 0.3APG LAST GAME: Scored two points Wednesday at Philadelphia. Dikembe Mutombo 4.0PPG 4.3RPG 0.1APG LAST GAME: Scored eight points with six rebounds Wednesday at Philadelphia. Scott Padgett 3.5PPG 2.3RPG 0.6APG LAST GAME: Scored 13 points with two rebounds Wednesday at Philadelphia. Rod Strickland 1.7PPG 1.1RPG 2.4APG LAST GAME: Scored two points with a season-high assists Wednesday at Philadelphia. Clarence Weatherspoon 2.1PPG 1.7RPG 0.2APG LAST GAME: Did not play (coach?s decision) Wednesday at Philadelphia. Injury Report Reece Gaines Maurice Taylor Charlie Ward Rockets Record When ... Leading after first quarter 18-5 Trailing after first quarter 5-14 Tied after first quarter 3-2 Leading at halftime 19-5 Trailing at halftime 7-16 Tied at halftime 0-0 Leading after third quarter 19-4 Trailing after third quarter 7-16 Tied after third quarter 0-1 Outrebounding their opponent 21-5 Being outrebounded 3-14 Tied in rebounding 1-2 Shooting 50% or better 5-1 Shooting under 50% 21-20 Opponents shoot 50% or better 0-6 Opponents shoot under 50% 26-15 Making more free throws 10-4 Making fewer free throws 16-15 Making same number of free throws 0-2 Making more 3-pointers 21-10 Making fewer 3-pointers 3-9 Making same number of 3-pointers 2-2 Committing more turnovers 14-15 Committing fewer turnovers 10-5 Committing same number of turnovers 2-1 One-point games 3-2 Two-point games 0-0 Three-point games 3-1 Four-point games 1-1 Five-10 point games 8-12 11-15 point games 5-1 16-20 point games 4-1 21+ point games 2-3 When the Rockets Score ... 60-69 points 0-0 70-79 points 2-6 80-89 points 6-6 90-99 points 10-5 100-109 points 4-3 110-119 points 3-1 120 or more points 1-0 When the Opponent ... Scores 100 points or more 3-9 Scores less than 100 points 23-12 By Day ... On Sundays 4-1 On Mondays 4-1 On Tuesdays 2-6 On Wednesdays 5-3 On Thursdays 3-3 On Fridays 4-3 On Saturdays 4-4 Game Notes Since the start of 2005, the Rockets have employed the starting unit of Yao Ming, Juwan Howard, Tracy McGrady, Bob Sura and David Wesley 16 times in 17 games. This lineup has logged a 10-6 record together, marking the most wins by any Rockets starting lineup. Scott Padgett joined the Rockets rotation seven games ago and has posted four double-figure scoring efforts over this stretch. In his last seven appearances off the Rockets bench, Padgett is averaging 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18.9 minutes. He has made 60.0 percent of his field goals and 63.6 percent of his 3-pointers over this stretch. Since David Wesley joined the Rockets on Dec. 28 at Cleveland, Houston has won 13 of 19 games. During this stretch, Houston has recorded two four-game winning streaks, marking the team?s longest streaks of the season. Over this span, Tracy McGrady has led Houston in points 14 times and assists 11 times. Houston is scoring 97.6 points per game over the last 25 games after averaging 86.9 points through their first 22 games. Houston has reached the century mark in scoring 10 times over this 25-game stretch after accomplishing this just twice in the first 22 games. The Rockets have also compiled 21 50-point halves in the last 25 games after accumulating four 50-point halves through the first 22 games of the season. Lastly, Houston has also recorded 19 30-point quarters in the last 25 games after accumulating two 30-point quarters through the first 22 games of the season. This season the Rockets play 16 sets of back-to-back games. This season the Rockets are 6-5 on the first night and 6-5 on the second night of back-to-backs.</font> My prediction: Timberwolves win by 4.
I see us sadly dropping this one. McGrady has been on fire as of late, and when he is on, not many teams end the game with a win. We are also going to be way too frustrated. I am really surprised Garnett hasn't stopped trying yet. Any other star player would have given up already, and if he did he would have a legitimate reason. Pure's Prediction- Rcokets 94 - Timberwolves 81
Nice preview Linkin. May I ask you where you get your stats of the team's record when trailing after...etc? I'd like to look at those. The Rockets are riding on a two game winning streak on their four game road swing, and they will certainly look to end this trip with a victory. The last time these teams played, McGrady was injured, so the outcome should be different this game. Yao has always played great against Minnesota and he should again tonight. I just don't see Olowakandi and Johnson stop him. Garnett with his quickness and shotblocking might actually do a better job on Yao. Rockets by 5.
Sorry that I havn't been too active lately. My apologies. I'm not sure what to think. Our inconsistent play has continued and we have dropped three straight games after winning five in a row. I really feel a loss in this one, sadly. I've been trying to feel optimistic, but it's very hard. We have just been way too underachieving. 'Wolves:86 Rockets:93
Another excellent 3rd quarter. We walk in with a 4 point lead, and leave with a 4 point deficet. We are getting dominated on the offensive boards 14-4 most because of Yao. KG and Cassell need to take over in the 4th to win! Oh yeah Olowokandi is playing like an all star today with a whopping 0 points, 2 rebs, 1 assist, and 4 fouls. Do I hear ALL STAR reserve????
damn ming is hot on the rebounding, hassl did a great move on him we managed into 100-100 but now ere down 102-100 2:23 to the buzzer and hassel on the free throws....we gotta fight it like hell and take a W.
hey what the **** they hav 0.4 seconds fucck that!!! no way ohhh god tracy could make it !!! hope he wont....
114-107, its over. McGrady is too good tonight, and we got horribly out rebounded. And we lost the three point battle, so chalk up another loss. Olowokandi's line 9min 0-0FG 0-0FT 2reb 1assist 0TO 0stl 0blocks 6fouls 0Points
we lost it...114-109 1:21 lef- we aint coming back.... WHY THE HELL WE FELL 0-5 IN THE START OF THE OVERTIME WHY??!?!?!!? OHHHHH I'M SO PIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 24-23 YUCK!!!!!!!!
The effort was there for the Timberwolves. I can't get on them for the loss tonight. They tried out there, but they just ran out of gas in the end. Still they battled and tried when it looked bleak in OT. If they have played like that every game all year, they would not be in a position they would be right now record-wise. They played with heart, determination, and all. They just could not get it done in OT. I don't know if the guys were scared, complacent, or what. They just could not match the Rockets hot shooting in OT. KG was fantastic. I really liked his effort from scoring in the paint rather than shoot jumpers. Wally was awesome. Trenton played great tonight. Sam was alright. Latrell and Michael was useless as usual. What else is new? Tip your hat to the Rockets. They are playing very good right now and they are at a high level. It seems Yao has really emerged, Tracy has started to breakout and the acquistions of Barry and Wesley really has helped them. If there is a team that can legitimately beat the Spurs, it's the Rockets since they got two superstars and great role players. As for the Wolves, they gotta build on this game tonight and carry this to Sunday afternoon against Boston at home. They can't deviate from this game. They just gotta be assertive and aggressive and play with some pride like tonight.
We did fight hard tonight, but like I said in my first post, McGrady is on fire lately. He lit us up for forty points, including clutch threes. Better luck next time, ugh.
When Tracy is on his A game and when he wants to play, there is no other player that I want on my team than him. He has so much talent and all. It's too bad that he was stuck with lousy coaching in Orlando and all. I think in Houston, he gets to work with a fine coach that can get the most out of him as a player. This guy can be so unconscious when he is on fire. How about that shot he made to win the game against the Spurs on national TV this season? WOW! He is a talent. He can be the best player in this league if he wants it.
The fact of the matter is this...KG was not playing the role that he should have in a close game down the stretch. Hassell was doing work. Sam was showing a valiant effort. But I don't believe that there is no way that the current MVP of the league does not have his hands on the ball near the end. I didn't feel as badly about some of the aspects of this loss because T-Mac had little room, but made it work. BUT......you have a team full of veterans who don't know how to run a play that was called in the huddle when you need 5 points in 30 seconds? I can understand that they probably called 2 plays just in case.....but to look totally inept on a nationally televised game was embarrassing. The Rockets practically gave us the game with all of their missed free throws (we missed some too, but who NEEDED the win?). Kevin Garnett needs to take this team by the horns and pull it together. He needs to say that if they don't want to roll with the game plan and start winning, the trade deadline is coming up so make their voices heard. Their is not a democracy, Sam is not the leader of this team. Before the game even showed, I saw a play in the Pacer game that seemed to make it apparent that KG may not receive the full accolades that he deserves (?). Jermaine O'Neal threw down a thunderous dunk, pass a double team, from the post. I was thinking that KG had better watch some footage and become an aggressive, ferocious wolf.
