Towns, Teague help Wolves recover in 120-103 win over Magic
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Through 17 minutes, the Minnesota Timberwolves watched the Orlando Magic shoot 76.4 percent and open a 19-point lead. Returning home after a trip was looking like another letdown for Minnesota.
Then the Timberwolves started playing team defense.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and 15 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 23 points and 10 assists in his return to the Minnesota lineup in the Timberwolves' 120-103 comeback victory Friday night.
Taj Gibson added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota. The Timberwolves recovered from a 19-point deficit midway through the second quarter with a 44-12 run through the 5:51 of the third quarter.
''Once we started playing defense,'' Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''I thought the last five minutes of the second quarter we got going. We got some stops. I thought (Anthony Tolliver) gave us a big lift. He hit a couple big 3s and that gave us the energy, gave us a lift, and the defense, I thought, in the second half was very good.''
Nikola Vucevic had 22 points for Orlando, but just eight after the first quarter. The Magic, who had won three of four, hit 26 of their first 34 shots (76.4 percent) before fading.
Terrence Ross scored 13 points off the bench for Orlando, but he missed his final four 3-pointers after starting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc during the Magic's hot start. Evan Fournier added 21 points.
''This game was ours to take, to be honest,'' Fournier said. ''It was really ours. When you're up 20 on the road, you should be winning those games.''
Minnesota found a way to slow Orlando in the second and continued the momentum into the second half. The Magic missed 12 of their final 14 shots of the first half and were 7 of 23 in the third quarter.
Teague and Towns took over offensively in the second half. Teague had nine points and four assists in the third, and Towns had 21 points in the second half after first-half foul trouble.
''It was just lazy, undisciplined and soft,'' Orlando forward Aaron Gordon said. ''We didn't have it tonight on the defensive end. It's not OK at this point in the season.''
The Wolves came back from a halftime deficit for the sixth time in 22 games this season. Friday matched their best comeback of the season and five of their six wins when trailing at the half have come at home.
''We came in here, at halftime, we said, `hey, we've got to change the game,''' Towns said. ''We did that. In essence, we came in here and mostly slapped each other and said, `Wake up.'''
TIP-INS
Magic: F Jonathon Simmons returned after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle. Simmons scored six points in 21 minutes off the bench. ... Orlando set a season high with the 68 first-half points. The franchise record is 78, set on Nov. 3, 2010, against Minnesota.
Timberwolves: F Robert Covington missed his second straight game with a right knee bone bruise and is sidelined indefinitely. G Derrick missed his fourth straight game because of a sprained right ankle. ... Towns had his 25th double-double in 39 games this season. ... Without Covington, Tolliver played for the second straight game and matched his season high with 11 points. ... Minnesota is 13-6 at home this season and 5-15 on the road.
TEAGUE COMEBACK
Teague wasn't rusty in his return after missing nine games due to left ankle inflammation. Teague was 8 of 10 from the field and hit all three of his 3-pointers, including a quick shot from 28 feet to beat the 24-second clock on one third-quarter possession.
It was Teague's fourth game of the season with at least 20 points.
''Teague lived in the paint,'' Magic coach Steve Clifford said. ''He set the tone early in the game right away, and we were never able to stop his penetration, pick-and-roll or anything else. I thought he was the biggest key in the game.''
UP NEXT
Magic: Their six-game trip continues Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Timberwolves: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
---
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Copyright 2019 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:48 | Personal foul on Jonathan Isaac | |||
11:37 | +2 | Jonathan Isaac made layup, assist by D.J. Augustin | 2-0 | |
11:20 | Andrew Wiggins missed turnaround jump shot | |||
11:20 | Defensive rebound by Jonathan Isaac | |||
11:09 | D.J. Augustin missed jump shot | |||
11:03 | +2 | Jeff Teague made jump shot | 2-2 | |
10:41 | Aaron Gordon missed jump shot | |||
10:32 | +2 | Jeff Teague made jump shot | 2-4 | |
10:06 | +2 | Jeff Teague made jump shot | 4-6 | |
9:49 | Jonathan Isaac missed reverse layup | |||
9:48 | Defensive rebound by Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
9:40 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns made hook shot, assist by Jeff Teague | 4-8 | |
9:26 | +2 | Evan Fournier made finger-roll layup, assist by D.J. Augustin | 6-8 | |
9:19 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made driving layup, assist by Jeff Teague | 6-10 | |
9:02 | Out of bounds turnover on Evan Fournier | |||
8:43 | Offensive rebound by Andrew Wiggins | |||
8:42 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made dunk | 6-12 | |
8:19 | +2 | Evan Fournier made floating jump shot, assist by Nikola Vucevic | 8-12 | |
8:01 | Lost ball turnover on Taj Gibson, stolen by Nikola Vucevic | |||
7:55 | +3 | Nikola Vucevic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Aaron Gordon | 11-12 | |
7:44 | Personal foul on Taj Gibson | |||
7:28 | +2 | Aaron Gordon made fade-away jump shot, assist by Nikola Vucevic | 13-12 | |
7:07 | Josh Okogie missed jump shot | |||
7:04 | Defensive rebound by Aaron Gordon | |||
6:44 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic made hook shot | 15-12 | |
6:32 | +2 | Taj Gibson made jump shot, assist by Jeff Teague | 15-14 | |
6:14 | +3 | Evan Fournier made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Aaron Gordon | 18-14 | |
6:03 | Jeff Teague missed floating jump shot | |||
6:00 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Vucevic | |||
5:56 | ORL team rebound | |||
5:56 | Aaron Gordon missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
5:56 | +1 | Aaron Gordon made 2nd of 2 free throws | 19-14 | |
5:35 | +2 | Jeff Teague made jump shot | 19-16 | |
5:20 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic made dunk, assist by D.J. Augustin | 21-16 | |
5:20 | Shooting foul on Jeff Teague | |||
5:20 | +1 | Nikola Vucevic made free throw | 22-16 | |
5:08 | Andrew Wiggins missed finger-roll layup | |||
5:05 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Vucevic | |||
5:01 | +3 | D.J. Augustin made 3-pt. jump shot | 25-16 | |
4:40 | Josh Okogie missed driving layup, blocked by Jonathan Isaac | |||
4:37 | Defensive rebound by Wesley Iwundu | |||
4:36 | Offensive foul on Jonathan Isaac | |||
4:36 | Offensive foul on Jonathan Isaac | |||
4:26 | +2 | Dario Saric made layup, assist by Josh Okogie | 25-18 | |
4:26 | Shooting foul on Wesley Iwundu | |||
4:26 | +1 | Dario Saric made free throw | 25-19 | |
4:19 | Unsportsmanlike technical foul | |||
4:19 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns made free throw | 25-20 | |
3:51 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns made dunk, assist by Jeff Teague | 27-22 | |
3:51 | Shooting foul on Nikola Vucevic | |||
3:51 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns made free throw | 27-23 | |
3:36 | Personal foul on Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
3:27 | Terrence Ross missed jump shot | |||
3:24 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
3:16 | +2 | Gorgui Dieng made jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 27-25 | |
2:58 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic made jump shot, assist by Wesley Iwundu | 29-25 | |
2:39 | Tyus Jones missed jump shot | |||
2:37 | Defensive rebound by Jonathon Simmons | |||
2:34 | Terrence Ross missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:34 | Offensive rebound by Nikola Vucevic | |||
2:14 | Traveling violation turnover on Andrew Wiggins | |||
1:59 | Terrence Ross missed jump shot | |||
1:49 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made layup, assist by Tyus Jones | 31-27 | |
1:43 | +2 | Wesley Iwundu made driving dunk, assist by Jonathon Simmons | 33-27 | |
1:23 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made driving layup | 33-29 | |
1:08 | +2 | Mo Bamba made jump shot, assist by Jonathon Simmons | 35-29 | |
0:54 | Personal foul on Wesley Iwundu | |||
0:49 | Offensive foul on Andrew Wiggins | |||
0:44 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made jump shot | 35-31 | |
0:29 | +2 | Terrence Ross made jump shot | 37-31 | |
0:09 | Defensive rebound by Mo Bamba | |||
0:02 | +2 | Mo Bamba made reverse layup, assist by Aaron Gordon | 39-31 | |
0:02 | Shooting foul on Andrew Wiggins | |||
0:02 | +1 | Mo Bamba made free throw | 40-31 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +2 | Jonathon Simmons made layup, assist by Aaron Gordon | 42-31 | |
11:25 | Lost ball turnover on Andrew Wiggins, stolen by D.J. Augustin | |||
11:22 | +3 | D.J. Augustin made 3-pt. jump shot | 45-31 | |
11:05 | Tyus Jones missed floating jump shot, blocked by Mo Bamba | |||
10:59 | Terrence Ross missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:55 | MIN team rebound | |||
10:43 | Personal foul on Jonathon Simmons | |||
10:36 | +3 | Tyus Jones made 3-pt. jump shot | 45-34 | |
10:18 | Shooting foul on Dario Saric | |||
10:18 | +1 | Aaron Gordon made 1st of 2 free throws | 46-34 | |
10:18 | Aaron Gordon missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
10:15 | Defensive rebound by Tyus Jones | |||
9:50 | Bad pass turnover on Anthony Tolliver, stolen by Aaron Gordon | |||
9:46 | +2 | Aaron Gordon made dunk | 48-34 | |
9:29 | Shooting foul on Mo Bamba | |||
9:29 | +1 | Gorgui Dieng made 1st of 2 free throws | 48-35 | |
9:29 | +1 | Gorgui Dieng made 2nd of 2 free throws | 48-36 | |
9:12 | +3 | Terrence Ross made 3-pt. jump shot | 51-36 | |
9:00 | +2 | Dario Saric made jump shot, assist by Tyus Jones | 51-38 | |
8:49 | +2 | Jonathon Simmons made driving layup | 53-38 | |
8:49 | Shooting foul on Dario Saric | |||
8:49 | Jonathon Simmons missed free throw | |||
8:47 | Defensive rebound by Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
8:39 | Karl-Anthony Towns missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:38 | ORL team rebound | |||
8:22 | Terrence Ross missed fade-away jump shot | |||
8:20 | Defensive rebound by Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
8:13 | +2 | Anthony Tolliver made driving dunk, assist by Josh Okogie | 53-40 | |
7:58 | +2 | Aaron Gordon made dunk, assist by D.J. Augustin | 55-40 | |
7:47 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns made driving dunk, assist by Tyus Jones | 55-42 | |
7:33 | +2 | D.J. Augustin made driving layup | 57-42 | |
7:27 | Traveling violation turnover on Dario Saric | |||
7:22 | +3 | Terrence Ross made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jonathon Simmons | 60-42 | |
7:13 | Personal foul on Mo Bamba | |||
7:06 | Shooting foul on Evan Fournier | |||
7:06 | +1 | Josh Okogie made 1st of 2 free throws | 60-43 | |
7:06 | +1 | Josh Okogie made 2nd of 2 free throws | 60-44 | |
6:58 | +3 | Terrence Ross made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jonathon Simmons | 63-44 | |
6:39 | Bad pass turnover on Josh Okogie, stolen by Evan Fournier | |||
6:31 | Jonathon Simmons missed driving layup | |||
6:29 | Defensive rebound by Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
6:28 | Personal foul on Terrence Ross | |||
6:28 | Full timeout called | |||
6:28 | MIN team rebound | |||
6:28 | Karl-Anthony Towns missed free throw | |||
6:28 | MIN team rebound | |||
6:28 | Jeff Teague missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
6:19 | Out of bounds turnover on Nikola Vucevic | |||
6:09 | Defensive rebound by Jonathon Simmons | |||
6:04 | Evan Fournier missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:01 | Defensive rebound by Anthony Tolliver | |||
5:53 | Shooting foul on Jonathon Simmons | |||
5:53 | MIN team rebound | |||
5:53 | Jeff Teague missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
5:53 | Jeff Teague missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
5:49 | Defensive rebound by Terrence Ross | |||
5:29 | Defensive rebound by Terrence Ross | |||
5:19 | MIN team rebound | |||
5:02 | +3 | Anthony Tolliver made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Karl-Anthony Towns | 63-48 | |
4:51 | Nikola Vucevic missed driving layup, blocked by Anthony Tolliver | |||
4:47 | Defensive rebound by Josh Okogie | |||
4:43 | +3 | Anthony Tolliver made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Okogie | 63-51 | |
4:36 | Personal foul on Jeff Teague | |||
4:26 | +2 | Jonathan Isaac made jump shot | 65-51 | |
4:08 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Vucevic | |||
4:01 | D.J. Augustin missed jump shot | |||
3:59 | Defensive rebound by Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
3:50 | +2 | Josh Okogie made driving layup | 65-53 | |
3:30 | +2 | Evan Fournier made driving layup | 67-53 | |
3:19 | +2 | Taj Gibson made dunk, assist by Karl-Anthony Towns | 67-55 | |
3:05 | Defensive rebound by Taj Gibson | |||
2:59 | Karl-Anthony Towns missed jump shot | |||
2:54 | Defensive rebound by Jonathan Isaac | |||
2:50 | Personal foul on Karl-Anthony Towns | |||
2:32 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
2:22 | +2 | Andrew Wiggins made driving layup | 67-57 | |
1:52 | +2 | Taj Gibson made hook shot, assist by Gorgui Dieng | 67-59 | |
1:38 | Bad pass turnover on D.J. Augustin, stolen by Anthony Tolliver | |||
1:38 | Personal foul on Nikola Vucevic | |||
1:38 | +1 | Jeff Teague made 1st of 2 free throws | 67-60 | |
1:38 | +1 | Jeff Teague made 2nd of 2 free throws | 67-61 | |
1:26 | Nikola Vucevic missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:25 | ORL team rebound | |||
1:25 | Personal foul on Taj Gibson | |||
1:25 | +1 | Jonathan Isaac made 1st of 2 free throws | 68-61 | |
1:25 | Jonathan Isaac missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
1:23 | Defensive rebound by Gorgui Dieng | |||
1:02 | +3 | Jeff Teague made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Andrew Wiggins | 68-64 | |
0:45 | Aaron Gordon missed floating jump shot | |||
0:44 | Defensive rebound by Taj Gibson | |||
0:29 | Taj Gibson missed layup | |||
0:27 | Defensive rebound by Evan Fournier | |||
0:06 | Evan Fournier missed fade-away jump shot | |||
0:00 | Anthony Tolliver missed driving layup | |||
0:00 | MIN team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |