New Coach,Same Result
Denver,Co – The result from Kevin McHale’s debut in his second stint as the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves was the same as the majority of the team’s games this season.
While his team might be playing with more confidence, earning that first victory gets tougher for McHale as the visiting Timberwolves look to avoid an eighth straight loss to the surging Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Nuggets -12 point spread favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Timberwolves. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 73% of more than 403 bets for this game have been placed on the Nuggets -12.
Minnesota (4-16) appeared on the verge of making McHale a winner one day after the team’s longtime vice president of basketball operations replaced the fired Randy Wittman. Instead, Utah’s Mehmet Okur hit the go-ahead shot with 1.7 seconds to play as the Timberwolves lost 99-96 on Tuesday for its sixth straight loss.
Al Jefferson scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who led by seven with 2:45 to play, but fell apart down the stretch as rookie Kevin Love missed four straight free throws to allow the Jazz to hang around. Minnesota shot 40.2 percent from the field and missed 16 free throws in the loss.
McHale guided the Timberwolves to a 19-12 record to close the 2004-05 season after firing coach Flip Saunders.
"I was proud of the guys,” said McHale, whose team gave a spirited effort after losing its previous two contests by a combined 52 points. "It’s been a tumultuous couple of days as you can imagine.”
Now, Minnesota, which hasn’t won since a 105-103 victory at Oklahoma City on Nov. 28, heads to Denver where it’s dropped four in a row. The Timberwolves haven’t beaten the Nuggets since Feb. 14, 2007 and are averaging 90.5 points on 42.9 percent shooting in losing the two previous meetings with Denver this season.
Jefferson is averaging 21.3 points and 9.9 rebounds in 2008-09 and 21.0 and 14.5 boards in his last four contests versus the Nuggets.
The more defensive-minded Nuggets (14-7) look for a second straight victory after winning 118-85 at Sacramento on Saturday for their fourth win in five games.
Denver is among the league defensive leaders, allowing an average of 97.5 points per game while holding opponents to 42.5 percent shooting from the field. Last season, the Nuggets ranked second-to-last in the NBA, giving up 107.0 points per contest.
The Nuggets held the Kings to 29.3 percent shooting, marking the fifth time they kept an opponent to fewer than 90 points, one less than they did all of 2007-08.
"The way we played defense tonight will give us a chance to figure it out offensively," said Denver coach George Karl, whose team is 13-4 with Chauncey Billups in the lineup since acquiring him from Detroit.
Billups scored 24 points, Renaldo Balkman had 17 and Carmelo Anthony, Nene and J.R. Smith each had 16 for the Nuggets, who led by 21 at the half and shot 52.5 percent for the game.
Billups, who’s averaging 18.8 points and 6.8 assists with Denver, has scored 53 points in the Nuggets’ two victories over the Timberwolves this season, including 27 in a 106-97 win at Minnesota on Nov. 29 in the most recent meeting.
Anthony, the Nuggets leader with 19.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, is averaging 21.7 and 10.7 boards in his last three against Minnesota.
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Posted: 12/10/08 1:00 AM ET