11/05/2009 - 19:21
Al, Wolves So Close
by
Matt Martino
Big Al and Company turned in their most impressive performance of the season Wednedsay, pushing the undefeated Boston Celtics to the brink before falling in the final minutes, 92-90.
"With Al, you just want to try to make things hard on him," Celtic center Kendrick Perkins told the Boston Globe.
"He did a lot of great things as far as stepping outside, shooting jumpers. I was just trying to force him off the block. I thought he made a lot of tough shots and he played well."
The Wolves, along with their anchor, played especially well in the opening quarter. Minnesota finished the frame with a 27-22 lead thanks to Al scoring 13 points and nearly converting a quick-release 20-footer at the buzzer, which was waved off after instant replay by the officials. He finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a season-high 36 minutes.
"He’s the key to their team and going against somebody like that you just have to make sure you make it tough on them," Perkins added about his matchup with No. 25.
"You’re not really going to stop them all the way, you just want to make everything tough. I know with Al, Ryan Gomes, they have something to prove. Any time you get traded and you play your old team - I know I would, I’d be gassed up for that game - and it’s expected. A lot of guys surprised us. [Oleksiy] Pecherov, he played big, he knocked down some big shots for them. They played hard and they played good team ball."
The Wolves (1-4) have displayed signs of being a good team lately, despite dropping three in a row. The difference between them and the Celtics (6-0) is the ability to close games. In their last three contests, Minnesota has lost by a total of 13 points, and in Wednesday’s game, they scored one basket in the final four minutes, 33 seconds.
"The guys are mad, but I'm happy they're mad," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis told the Pioneer Press of his players.
"They should be mad. They're angry and frustrated, but this will encourage them to work harder."
REGAINING HIS STEP
No. 25 has scored 18 or more points in the past three games -- he had 18 on Wednesday -- after scoring 21 combined in the season's first two games.
"I'm starting to get my rhythm," Al told the Star-Tribune. "I got a long way to go, as far as getting back into game-speed shape. I've got some ways to go. It's only the fifth game tonight."
LOVE AWAITS
Teammate and Al’s frontcourt counterpart, Kevin Love, is tentatively set to return on Nov. 20. This is on the shorter end of the six-to-eight recovery period estimated when he broke his left hand Oct. 16 at Chicago.
NEXT UP
This weekend, the Wolves will host the Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) on Friday and then travel to Portland to face the Trailblazers (2-3) for Sunday’s contests.
Big Al faced both teams twice last year, averaging 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals against the Bucks. He enjoyed similar success against the Blazers: 26.5 points, 1.5 steals, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.
RELATED STORIES
K.G. comes back, Celtics at Wolves tonight (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, November 4, 2009)
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wolves/2009/11/04/kg-comes-back-celt...
Jefferson proves difficult assignment (Boston Globe, November 5, 2009)
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/11/05/jeff...
Ghost of Kevin Garnett haunts Timberwolves with a late favorable call (St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 5, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13716414
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