Short turnaround for Timberwolves with Pistons coming to town
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ inability to hold leads has caused a season that began with promise to fade away into another seemingly lost year waiting for further development of the team’s young stars.
After another lead washed away in a hurry at Toronto on Thursday night, Minnesota has a short turnaround for Friday night’s home game against the Detroit Pistons.
“The good teams are 48-minute teams,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We’re still not there…The fourth quarter is different. You have to understand that. The intensity of a fourth quarter is different. Your decision-making is different. We still have to figure that out.”
Minnesota (6-16) lost 124-110 at Toronto on Thursday, its ninth loss in 11 games. Detroit traveled but had a day off after losing 87-77 at Charlotte on Wednesday.
The Pistons know trouble on the road. Detroit (12-12) has lost nine of its 13 road games this season. But the team had won three in a row on the road before the loss at Charlotte. The Pistons have also played more games on the road than at home this season.
Detroit has won six of its past nine games. But the loss to the Hornets came with a minus-21 differential in free throws attempted that was frustrating to accept.
“We got to keep growing as team and, as you grow as a team and grow in status…