By Anthony Maggio
FOXSportsNorth.com
February 22, 2011
Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn put a bow on his latest roster move on Tuesday night in hopes that nights like the one his team was having in Milwaukee would become less of a habit in the coming seasons.
Kahn admitted that Anthony Randolph, who's been languishing on the New York Knicks' bench much of this campaign, would likely be more of a help next season as he uses the last 25 games to shake off the rust he's undoubtedly developed. He couldn't have been much rustier than most of the Wolves were against the Bucks.
Minnesota lost 94-88 to Milwaukee for its fifth consecutive defeat and has now lost 18 of its last 22 games overall dating back to January 3. The Wolves shot just 38.1 percent from the floor, but an even more egregious 20-for-31 from the free throw line.
Minnesota has shot below 70 percent from the free throw line in back-to-back games for the first time since December 11 and 14 in road games at Chicago and Golden State. As for their field goal shooting, the Wolves have been below 40 percent in four straight games, matching a season-worst stretch.
Yet despite the poor free throw shooting, a 17-2 disparity in fast break points, and 17 turnovers to Milwaukee's nine, Minnesota still had a chance to win the game.
Trailing 89-88, Ridnour missed a layup that would've given the Wolves their first lead of the fourth quarter. Darko Milicic missed a hook shot on Minnesota's next possession, and the Wolves missed three shots their next time down the court. After Ridnour's jumper with two minutes left in the contest, Minnesota closed out the game missing its final seven shots.
Michael Beasley, who played for the first time since February 7 after reaggravating his sprained left ankle, was one of the Wolves' lone bright spots. He hit his first four shots en route to a team-high 21 points and was aggressive on offense. Unfortunately, he also turned the ball over a game-high five times and contributed only one rebound and one assist.
Kevin Love was also his usual stellar self, picking up his 43rd consecutive double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds. He also was just four assists shy of a triple-double. Love is one double-double shy of Moses Malone's 44-game mark set in the 1982-83 season. The next milestone also belongs to Malone
