NBA scores 2016: The Timberwolves are still learning to hunt

Minnesota desperately wants to start winning. The team is close ... but it’s not quite there yet.

Nov 13, 2016, 1:00 PM UTC

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Thibodeau won’t let the Timberwolves be bad at defense for long. Preventing points was probably cooked into his DNA, after all. It’s just a matter of time.

That time isn’t here yet, though. Minnesota lost, 119-105, to the Clippers on Saturday, once again doing plenty offensively to compete (45 percent from the field) but failing to hinder Los Angeles enough on the other end. Minnesota’s defensive rating is hovering around 107 — bottom 10 in the league — and that’s certainly enough to make Thibodeau kick a trash can every time he even thinks about it.

Of course it’ll take time, though. Thibodeau joined Minnesota seven months ago. He’s starting three players under age 22 and playing another two frequently off the bench. Ricky Rubio and Gorgui Dieng, the team’s “veterans,” are each 26. The Timberwolves are a defensive behemoth waiting to be unlocked, with Andrew Wiggins having the potential to match any superstar wing, Kris Dunn coming in with a collegiate reputation, and Karl-Anthony Towns in the middle to anchor it all. But it still has to be unlocked, and it hasn’t been yet.

Until it is, neither are the Timberwolves — the loss dropped them to 2-6 on the year. Thibodeau needs time, but whether the time needed is a month or another year is anybody’s guess. We know the pieces are falling in place, and their future is blinding. Even if they don’t push for a playoff spot, as long as we’re seeing growth at the pace everyone expects, there’s no reason to worry yet.

On the other hand, maybe the push will still come. A 2-6 record is hardly crippling, and there’s no shame in losing to the Clippers, who are on a six-game winning streak. None of the Timberwolves’ six losses was embarrassing, nor totally unexpected, including four on the road in their first six games. You’d love them to be 4-4, but there are already bright signs among the tough losses.

Wiggins is the biggest one. He’s torrid behind the three-point arc, hitting 16-of-27 so far this season after knocking down just 30 percent last season. His current number will fall some — 50-plus percent shooting barely happens at all, much less overnight — but his confidence hitting the long ball is a huge boost for the team. Another good thing is having Rubio back after he missed five games with a wonky elbow. His absence was very clearly felt.

It’s worth mentioning again how determined this team of 20-year-old pups is to start winning now. You can practically feel it in their words here. The 2-6 start shows it was optimistic to write them into the playoffs with a Sharpie, like a few of the trendiest of us did. But if the defense improves — steadily, month by month, under the watchful eye of Thibodeau — who knows. You damn sure shouldn’t count them out of anything just yet.

Saturday’s 5 best performances

DeMar DeRozan

33 points, 11-of-23 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

We’re running out of superlatives for DeRozan, the NBA’s leading scorer, whose points per game average fell on Saturday because he scored only 33. (He’s averaging 34.) Look at the company he’s in now.

Markieff Morris

44 minutes, 24 points (9-of-19 shooting), 15 rebounds, 3 blocks

Scotty Brooks could barely take Morris out of the game on Saturday. It’s hard to blame him. Morris has been solid for the Wizards, if a bit inconsistent. Washington lost anyway, falling to 2-7.

James Harden

25 points, 7-of-18 shooting, 13 assists, 11 rebounds

This was Harden’s sixth straight game with at least 10 assists, which is a Rockets record. There’s a small chance Harden ends up pulling it off, but has there ever been a player who could realistically lead the league in scoring and assists in the same season?

Lucas Nogueira

6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 5 blocks

A dozen players had gaudier scoring lines than Nogueira on Saturday, but he was so impactful in his 26 minutes that it was impossible to leave him out. This block on Derrick Rose in the final minute when it was still a six-point game helped Toronto solidify its 118-107 victory.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

20 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists

RHJ had a career high in points and tied one in rebounds. We see you, young fella.

What are you doing, Dwyane!?

Uhh ... that was either the worst flop we’ve ever seen, or Wade just totally lost his balance, or perhaps he was doing a Pau Gasol defense impersonation because Chicago really misses him.