2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves season

2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Kevin Love's rookie season
Head coach	Kevin McHale
Owner(s)	Glen Taylor
Arena	Target Center
Results
Record	24–58 (.293)
Place	Division: 4th (Northwest) Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did Not Qualify
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports North, KSTC
Radio	KFAN

The 2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 20th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished the season coached by Kevin McHale. After the season, McHale was dismissed though he would return as head coach for the Houston Rockets for the shortened 2011–12 season and would later guide the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in 2015.

The Timberwolved drafted O. J. Mayo with the third pick in the first round of the 2008 draft. Soon, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Kevin Love. The team also drafted Mario Chalmers, but his rights was soon traded to the Miami Heat, where he would win two championships.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	3	O. J. Mayo (traded to Memphis)	SG	United States	USC (fr.)
2	31	Nikola Peković	PF	Montenegro	Panathinaikos (Greece) 1986
2	34	Mario Chalmers (traded to Miami)	PG	United States	Kansas (jr.)

Roster

2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From SF 22 Brewer, Corey  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Florida G 1 Brown, Bobby 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Cal State Fullerton F 14 Cardinal, Brian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Purdue F 10 Carney, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 204 lb (93 kg) Memphis C 34 Collins, Jason 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Stanford G 4 Foye, Randy  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 213 lb (97 kg) Villanova G/F 8 Gomes, Ryan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Providence F/C 25 Jefferson, Al  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 256 lb (116 kg) Prentiss HS (MS) F/C 42 Love, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) UCLA F/C 35 Madsen, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Stanford G/F 33 Miller, Mike 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Florida PG 12 Ollie, Kevin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Connecticut F/C 5 Smith, Craig 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Boston C PG 3 Telfair, Sebastian 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Abraham Lincoln HS (NY) F/C 23 Williams, Shelden 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Duke	Head coach Kevin McHale (Minnesota) Assistant coach(es) Jerry Sichting (Purdue) J. B. Bickerstaff (Minnesota) Ed Pinckney (Villanova) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Standings

Northwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y–Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	—	33–8	21–20	12–4	82
x–Portland Trail Blazers	54	28	.659	—	34–7	20–21	11–5	82
x–Utah Jazz	48	34	.585	6	33–8	15–26	10–6	82
Minnesota Timberwolves	24	58	.293	30	11–30	13–28	3–13	82
Oklahoma City Thunder	23	59	.280	31	15–26	8–33	4–12	82

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	65	17	.793	—
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	11
3	y-San Antonio Spurs	54	28	.659	11
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	54	28	.659	11
5	x-Houston Rockets	53	29	.646	12
6	x-Dallas Mavericks	50	32	.610	15
7	x-New Orleans Hornets	49	33	.598	16
8	x-Utah Jazz	48	34	.585	17
9	Phoenix Suns	46	36	.561	19
10	Golden State Warriors	29	53	.354	36
11	Minnesota Timberwolves	24	58	.293	41
12	Memphis Grizzlies	24	58	.293	41
13	Oklahoma City Thunder	23	59	.280	42
14	Los Angeles Clippers	19	63	.232	46
15	Sacramento Kings	17	65	.207	48

Game log

2008–09 game log
October: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 29 Sacramento W 98–96 Al Jefferson (21) Al Jefferson (10) Mike Miller (6) Target Center 17,820 1–0
November: 3–11 (Home: 1–6; Road: 2–5) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1 Dallas L 85–95 Rashad McCants (18) Al Jefferson (12) Randy Foye (6) Target Center 16,893 1–1 3 November 2 @ Oklahoma City L 85–88 Al Jefferson (24) Al Jefferson (13) Randy Foye (6) Ford Center 18,163 1–2 4 November 5 San Antonio L 125–129 (2OT) Al Jefferson (30) Al Jefferson (14) Sebastian Telfair (10) Target Center 11,112 1–3 5 November 7 @ Sacramento L 109–121 Kevin Love (20) Al Jefferson (9) Sebastian Telfair (7) ARCO Arena 10,592 1–4 6 November 8 @ Portland L 93–97 Al Jefferson (27) Kevin Love (7) Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (5) Rose Garden 20,599 1–5 7 November 11 @ Golden State L 110–113 (OT) Al Jefferson (25) Al Jefferson (12) Randy Foye (8) Oracle Arena 17,422 1–6 8 November 15 Portland L 83–88 Al Jefferson (26) Al Jefferson (6) Mike Miller (5) Target Center 12,213 1–7 9 November 16 @ Denver L 84–90 Al Jefferson (20) Al Jefferson (14) Randy Foye (6) Pepsi Center 16,721 1–8 10 November 19 Philadelphia W 102–96 Al Jefferson (25) Mike Miller (10) Sebastian Telfair (8) Target Center 10,111 2–8 11 November 21 Boston L 78–95 Al Jefferson (21) Craig Smith (7) Craig Smith (4) Target Center 19,107 2–9 12 November 23 @ Detroit W 106–80 Randy Foye (23) Craig Smith (9) Randy Foye (14) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 3–9 13 November 26 Phoenix L 102–110 Al Jefferson (28) Al Jefferson (17) Mike Miller (6) Target Center 11,708 3–10 14 November 28 @ Oklahoma City W 105–103 Craig Smith (23) Al Jefferson (9) Randy Foye (7) Ford Center 18,229 4–10 15 November 29 Denver L 97–106 Randy Foye (25) Al Jefferson (13) Randy Foye (6) Target Center 14,197 4–11
December: 2–14 (Home: 1–6; Road: 1–8) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 1 @ Charlotte L 90–100 Randy Foye (23) Mike Miller (10) Mike Miller (5) Time Warner Cable Arena 9,285 4–12 17 December 3 @ Orlando L 89–100 Al Jefferson (19) Kevin Love (12) Randy Foye (5) Amway Arena 15,705 4–13 18 December 5 @ New Jersey L 84–113 Randy Foye (20) Al Jefferson (12) Randy Foye (5) Izod Center 15,364 4–14 19 December 6 L.A. Clippers L 84–107 Al Jefferson (28) Kevin Love (15) Randy Foye, Sebastian Telfair (5) Target Center 10,863 4–15 20 December 9 Utah L 96–99 Al Jefferson (21) Kevin Love (15) Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes (4) Target Center 10,745 4–16 21 December 10 @ Denver L 105–116 Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (26) Kevin Love (14) Randy Foye (6) Pepsi Center 14,007 4–17 22 December 12 San Antonio L 86–98 Al Jefferson (29) Al Jefferson (13) Randy Foye (6) Target Center 15,336 4–18 23 December 14 @ L.A. Lakers L 86–98 Al Jefferson (20) Al Jefferson (13) Randy Foye (6) Staples Center 18,997 4–19 24 December 15 @ Sacramento L 103–118 Al Jefferson (22) Kevin Love (15) Kevin Ollie (5) ARCO Arena 10,593 4–20 25 December 17 Cleveland L 70–93 Al Jefferson (20) Al Jefferson (11) Randy Foye (3) Target Center 14,899 4–21 26 December 20 Houston L 102–109 Al Jefferson (34) Al Jefferson (13) Al Jefferson, Rashad McCants (4) Target Center 12,115 4–22 27 December 23 @ San Antonio L 93–99 Al Jefferson (28) Randy Foye (16) Kevin Ollie (4) AT&T Center 17,996 4–23 28 December 26 @ New York W 120–107 Rashad McCants (23) Al Jefferson (15) Sebastian Telfair (8) Madison Square Garden 19,763 5–23 29 December 27 Orlando L 94–118 Rashad McCants (21) Kevin Love (10) Rashad McCants (4) Target Center 17,003 5–24 30 December 29 Memphis W 108–98 (OT) Al Jefferson (38) Al Jefferson (16) Randy Foye, Craig Smith (5) Target Center 12,207 6–24 31 December 30 @ Dallas L 100–107 Al Jefferson (21) Al Jefferson (9) Kevin Ollie (6) American Airlines Center 20,264 6–25
January: 10–4 (Home: 5–3; Road: 5–1) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 2 Golden State W 115–108 Al Jefferson (32) Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes (10) Randy Foye (7) Target Center 11,921 7–25 33 January 3 @ Chicago W 102–92 Randy Foye (21) Al Jefferson (14) Sebastian Telfair (6) United Center 20,516 8–25 34 January 6 @ Memphis W 94–87 Randy Foye (23) Al Jefferson (12) Sebastian Telfair (9) FedExForum 10,156 9–25 35 January 7 Oklahoma City W 129–87 Randy Foye (32) Kevin Love (15) Randy Foye (6) Target Center 10,272 10–25 36 January 10 Milwaukee W 106–104 Rodney Carney (22) Kevin Love (12) Sebastian Telfair (11) Target Center 15,007 11–25 37 January 13 Miami L 96–99 Randy Foye (29) Al Jefferson (10) Randy Foye (8) Target Center 10,856 11–26 38 January 16 @ Phoenix W 105–103 Al Jefferson (22) Kevin Love (14) Mike Miller (5) US Airways Center 18,422 12–26 39 January 19 @ L.A. Clippers W 94–86 Al Jefferson, Craig Smith (20) Al Jefferson (17) Sebastian Telfair (9) Staples Center 14,399 13–26 40 January 20 @ Utah L 107–112 Al Jefferson (25) Kevin Love (9) Sebastian Telfair (9) EnergySolutions Arena 19,911 13–27 41 January 23 New Orleans W 116–108 Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (24) Al Jefferson (14) Randy Foye, Sebastian Telfair (8) Target Center 18,224 14–27 42 January 25 Chicago W 109–108 (OT) Al Jefferson (39) Kevin Love (15) Mike Miller (7) Target Center 16,009 15–27 43 January 26 @ Milwaukee W 90–83 Al Jefferson (23) Al Jefferson, Mike Miller (10) Randy Foye (7) Bradley Center 12,914 16–27 44 January 28 Detroit L 89–98 Al Jefferson (24) Kevin Love (10) Randy Foye, Mike Miller (5) Target Center 14,232 16–28 45 January 30 L.A. Lakers L 119–132 Al Jefferson (34) Al Jefferson (13) Sebastian Telfair (7) Target Center 19,111 16–29
February: 2–11 (Home: 0–6; Road: 2–5) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 46 February 1 @ Boston L 101–109 Al Jefferson (34) Al Jefferson (11) Randy Foye (9) TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 16–30 47 February 3 @ Indiana W 116–111 Randy Foye (19) Al Jefferson (15) Randy Foye (5) Conseco Fieldhouse 11,015 17–30 48 February 4 Atlanta L 86–94 Al Jefferson (18) Kevin Love (14) Mike Miller (4) Target Center 13,745 17–31 49 February 7 @ Houston L 90–107 Al Jefferson (36) Al Jefferson (22) Sebastian Telfair (9) Toyota Center 16,815 17–32 50 February 8 @ New Orleans L 97–101 Al Jefferson (25) Al Jefferson (14) Sebastian Telfair (6) New Orleans Arena 16,046 17–33 51 February 10 Toronto L 102–110 Randy Foye (33) Kevin Love (12) Mike Miller (5) Target Center 12,722 17–34 52 February 17 @ Washington L 103–111 Randy Foye (23) Kevin Love (11) Mike Miller (6) Verizon Center 11,623 17–35 53 February 18 @ Miami W 111–104 Sebastian Telfair (30) Brian Cardinal (10) Mike Miller (9) American Airlines Arena 17,525 18–35 54 February 20 Indiana L 105–112 Randy Foye (36) Kevin Love (12) Sebastian Telfair (6) Target Center 13,777 18–36 55 February 22 L.A. Lakers L 108–111 Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes (20) Kevin Love (10) Randy Foye, Kevin Ollie (6) Target Center 19,177 18–37 56 February 24 @ Toronto L 110–118 Randy Foye (25) Mike Miller (12) Mike Miller (9) Air Canada Centre 17,457 18–38 57 February 25 Utah L 103–120 Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love (24) Kevin Love (15) Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair (6) Target Center 13,108 18–39 58 February 27 Portland L 82–102 Craig Smith, Mike Miller (16) Ryan Gomes (9) Mike Miller (4) Target Center 17,017 18–40
March: 3–13 (Home: 3–5; Road: 0–8) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1 Houston L 94–105 Randy Foye (24) Craig Smith, Mike Miller (6) Mike Miller (5) Target Center 13,716 18–41 60 March 3 Golden State L 94–118 Randy Foye (19) Kevin Love (14) Mike Miller (4) Target Center 14,780 18–42 61 March 6 @ L.A. Lakers L 90–110 Ryan Gomes (20) Kevin Love (14) Mike Miller (9) Staples Center 18,997 18–43 62 March 7 @ Portland L 93–95 Ryan Gomes (28) Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Jason Collins (7) Sebastian Telfair (7) Rose Garden 20,535 18–44 63 March 9 Washington L 99–110 Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes (18) Kevin Love (11) Randy Foye (6) Target Center 13,119 18–45 64 March 11 Memphis W 104–79 Ryan Gomes (25) Kevin Love, Mike Miller (11) Ryan Gomes (5) Target Center 12,443 19–45 65 March 13 New York L 94–102 Ryan Gomes (28) Mike Miller (11) Mike Miller (7) Target Center 14,311 19–46 66 March 14 Charlotte W 108–100 Kevin Love (22) Kevin Love, Craig Smith (7) Sebastian Telfair (9) Target Center 15,276 20–46 67 March 17 @ San Antonio L 86–93 Sebastian Telfair, Kevin Love (17) Kevin Love (19) Sebastian Telfair (5) AT&T Center 18,797 20–47 68 March 18 @ New Orleans L 93–94 Kevin Love (23) Kevin Love (11) Sebastian Telfair (6) New Orleans Arena 17,253 20–48 69 March 20 @ Houston L 88–107 Craig Smith (19) Kevin Love (12) Mike Miller (7) Toyota Center 17,456 20–49 70 March 22 Oklahoma City L 90–97 Craig Smith (19) Craig Smith, Mike Miller (10) Bobby Brown, Mike Miller (4) Target Center 18,561 20–50 71 March 23 @ Atlanta L 97–109 Randy Foye (19) Mike Miller (9) Kevin Ollie, Sebastian Telfair (4) Philips Arena 13,425 20–51 72 March 25 @ Philadelphia L 88–96 Rodney Carney (21) Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love (9) Randy Foye, Kevin Ollie (4) Wachovia Center 16,965 20–52 73 March 27 @ Cleveland L 85–107 Kevin Love, Randy Foye (18) Kevin Love (6) Sebastian Telfair, Mike Miller (4) Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 20–53 74 March 29 New Jersey W 108–99 Mike Miller (22) Kevin Love (11) Kevin Ollie (7) Target Center 16,539 21–53
April: 3–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 3–1) Game Date Time Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 3 @ Utah W 103–102 Ryan Gomes, Rodney Carney (25) Mike Miller (9) Mike Miller (8) EnergySolutions Arena 19,911 22–54 77 April 5 Denver L 87–110 Sebastian Telfair (18) Shelden Williams (12) Mike Miller (6) Target Center 16,839 22–55 78 April 7 @ L.A. Clippers W 87–77 Ryan Gomes (24) Kevin Love (15) Sebastian Telfair, Mike Miller (6) Staples Center 16,757 23–55 79 April 8 @ Golden State W 105–97 Sebastian Telfair (21) Kevin Love (12) Mike Miller (6) Oracle Arena 18,808 24–55 80 April 11 Phoenix L 97–110 Sebastian Telfair (21) Mike Miller (9) Mike Miller (9) Target Center 18,478 24–56 81 April 13 @ Dallas L 94–96 Craig Smith (24) Kevin Love (11) Sebastian Telfair (12) American Airlines Center 19,900 24–57 82 April 15 Sacramento L 90–97 Craig Smith (18) Kevin Love (10) Sebastian Telfair (6) Target Center 17,333 24–58
2015–16 season schedule

References