Last night was a night of improbabilities. First and foremost, for the first time in years, people were caught uttering, “I wished I would have watched the Wolves‘ game tonight.” This is progress.
Kevin Love‘s 31 points and (franchise record) 31 boards marked the first 30-30 game in the NBA since Moses Malone did it in 1982. It was also the first 30-rebound game since Charles Barkley pulled down 33 for the Rockets in 1996.
Adding to the improbabilities, the Wolves handed the Knicks arguably their worst loss of the Mike D’Antoni era, surging back from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to win, 112-103, at the Target Center.
Not thoroughly impressed yet? Listen. Love had 6 points and 9 rebounds at halftime. Then, read what the AP reports:
At one point in the third quarter, Kevin Love leaned over to Michael Beasley on the bench and whispered in his ear.
“I’m going for 30 tonight,” Love said.
With Love having only seven points at the time, Beasley looked at him and said, “Thirty what?”
Incredibly, Love was talking about rebounds. But he didn’t stop there.
Nope, Love went for 25-22 in the second half, with 15 boards in the third quarter alone — just 3 off the NBA record for a single quarter.
For many SLAMonline readers, Love’s was the first 30-30 game they’ve ever witnessed… or didn’t witness — the game wasn’t broadcasted on local TV. So, sadly, what happened was something most won’t see again for, oh… a few decades.
The Wolves rode a 55-25 run to end the game. And they couldn’t have done it without another impressive offensive night from BEasy.
Again, talking about improbabilities, Beasley became second player in TWolves’ history to score 35+-points in back-to-back games. Kevin Garnett did it in March 2000.
