The Timberwolves dropped the final game of the season 136-130 in double-overtime to the Utah Jazz.
The biggest story line in the game though was the future of Wolves coach Rick Adelman. Speculation that he may retire at the end of the season has been circling for weeks.
Adelman is expected to meet with Wolves general manager Flip Saunders and owner Glenn Taylor to discuss his future in the next couple of days.
Sports Illustrated reports that if Adelman does retire, he will finish eighth on the NBA’s all-time wins list. In 23 seasons as a head coach, Adelman has led 16 teams to the playoffs, unfortunately for Minnesota the Wolves weren’t one of them.
“He’s probably the most underrated coach in the NBA,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told SI. “He’s done a great job every place that he’s been. He runs good stuff, players enjoy playing for him and he’s tenacious. He’s one hell of a coach.”
On the court, Trey Burke’s three with 1:03 to play in double-overtime allowed the Jazz to reclaim a five point lead. Burke finished with 32, including four free-throws in the final minute to ice the game for the Jazz.
Utah took control of the game in the opening minutes and the Wolves struggled to get back into it. The Jazz built a 31-17 first quarter lead.
But eventually they did, thanks to a big fourth quarter. Minnesota had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but Kevin Love’s jumper at the end of horn was no good, and the game went to overtime tied at 107.
The first overtime wasn’t enough, but in double o-t it looked like the Wolves ran out of gas as the Jazz outscored them 17-11.
Kevin Martin finished with a season-high 36 points, in the loss. Love added another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He made some history in the game.
.@kevinlove is now the first player in @nba history to have 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 100 3-pointers in a single season. #Twolves
— Mark Remme (@MarkRemme) April 17, 2014
Love will become first player since Kareem and Bob McAdoo in 1975-76 to average 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in a season
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) April 17, 2014
In addition to Burke’s big night, Gordon Hayward just missed a triple-double. He scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out nine assists for Utah. Derrick Favors added 21.
The Wolves finish the season at 40-42, their ninth straight season missing the playoffs. They haven’t had a non losing season since 2004-2005.
It will be an offseason of intrigue, with Adelman’s decision expected in the next few days. But the bigger issue could be the future of Love, who undoubtably will be the subject of endless offseason trade talks.
