The Minnesota Timberwolves have given a valiant effort and restored the state's faith in the game of basketball during the 2011-2012 season. Players like Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, and Derrick Williams have provided plenty of highlights (three Timberwolves were involved in All-Star weekend, if that says anything) and the team held onto the eighth spot in the Western Conference well past the middle of the season.
To commemorate the season, we look back at three of the better individual performances turned in by members of the Timberwolves this year.
3. February 17th, Timberwolves beat the Rockets 111-98. Beasts. The Minnesota Timberwolves had two players score over thirty points, two players with more than ten rebounds, and walked away from Houston with a big win. Kevin Love only needed 16 shots to score 33 points, while Pekovic was an efficient 13 of 20 from the field. Two players each scoring thirty for the same team in the same game is pretty uncommon.
2. March 3rd, Timberwolves beat the Trail Blazers 122-110. There was no stopping Kevin Love, and his 42 points quieted the crowd of his childhood home. Love hit five three-point attempts and grabbed ten rebounds, and the Timberwolves snapped a losing streak that had dated back to 2007 to the Blazers. Every time the Blazers made a run, the Timberwolves managed to find Kevin Love for an answer back. It was apparent from the first whistle that this game was more than just a game to Love.
1. March 23rd, Timberwolves fall to Oklahoma City 149-140. Kevin Love set the Minnesota franchise record for points in a game with 51, but it wasn't enough to beat back Kevin Durant and Michael Westbrook. Oklahoma City's two All-Stars combined for 85 points to beat the Wolves in two overtimes. It was one of the more impressive performances in the NBA all season, and was even more spectacular because it happened on the road against arguably the best team in the Western Conference.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot to look forward to next season if they can stay healthy. Fans are hoping that performances like this lead to a Timberwolves win at the end of the night.
Jack Grunpe is an avid Minnesota fan and follows the Timberwolves, Lynx, Vikings, and Twins.
