The Minnesota Timberwolves (6-8) rallied late in order to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers (0-15) by a score of 100-95.
The 76ers had the lead most of the game and it actually looked like this would be the night they would find their first win of the season. However, Andrew Wiggins had other plans, as he stepped it up huge in the late fourth quarter to propell his Timberwolves to the win.
Jahlil Okafor had a great game for the 76ers and definitely out-matched rival rookie Karl-Anthony Towns. Okafor notched a double double with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He shot a strong 10-15 from the field and had two blocked shots. Towns was the only starter to score double digits but the 76ers got good production from their bench with three players scoring double digits. Robert Covington contributed 18 points, six rebounds and three steals, in 35 minutes. Isaiah Canaan finished with 14 points, going 5-5 from the free throw line but only 3-10 from the field. Hollis Thompson finished with 15 points and five rebounds on strong 6-10 shooting, including 3-7 from deep.
The Timberwolves did not play a great game but were saved by their young star Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead points, and was able to propell his team to the lead, after trailing by six midway through the fourth quarter. Wiggins shot 11-12 from the free throw line and chipped in six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Ricky Rubio played well with 11 assists, eight points and six rebounds. Kevin Garnett grabbed a solid 10 rebounds and eight points on 4-5 shooting in 17 minutes, and was very effective as an energetic catalyst in his team’s comeback. Zach LaVine and Gorgui Dieng both added 12 points off the bench.
Next up for Minnesota is a game Wednesday at home versus Atlanta. The 76ers will look for their first win Wednesday in Boston.
