This is pretty straight forward Wolves faithful.
We don’t remember what it’s like to be a part of the NBA playoffs anymore, so in this continuing series, we’ll live vicariously through the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves, most likely once a week.
In our last installment of 2013, Latrell Sprewell led the Wolves to a win in his first game back at Madison Square Garden against his former team, the Knicks.
In our first installment of 2014, it’s Minnesota’s first matchup against the team that would be their eventual downfall.
MINNESOTA 106, LA LAKERS 90: This marked the two teams first matchup of the 2003-04 season, and the sides would get very well acquainted once things were said and done, playing nine more times after this night 10 years ago.
Since we won’t spoil the outcome of the next nine, we can tell you that in this contest the “Big 3” put up a combined 82 points, while Kevin Garnett also snatched 18 rebounds in a monster game for “The Franchise.”
While it was a big win for the Wolves, LA was playing without Karl Malone and more importantly, Shaquille O’Neal, who was replaced by Slava Medvedenko.
With apologies to Slava, he isn’t exactly Shaq.
The win was Minnesota’s 13th in their past 16 games, and would spark a brand new five-game winning streak at the outset of 2004.
