Timberwolves lose to Mavericks 100-98, believe that Kevin Love was fouled on final play
By Hayden Kane
With a certain amount of momentum entering the season, many wondered if this would be the year that Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves would finally reach the playoffs. Disappointment has followed once again, as the team is treading around the .500 mark and came up short once again Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 100-98.
Love put up a monster game, scoring 36 points on 14-24 shooting and adding 11 rebounds. With his team down two, Love was set up for a final shot. Shawn Marion (who led the Mavericks with 32 points of his own) contested Love’s final shot and appeared to foul him. Or at least that is the account of things provided by those who cover the Timberwolves.
ED MALLOY!!! He was RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE PLAY and didn't call a foul on Marion contesting Love's shot. Every replay shows it was a foul.
— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) December 31, 2013
Love scores 36 but doesn't get the call on a final shot attempt and Dallas wins 100-98
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) December 31, 2013
Rick Adelman on the final play "He got fouled." @NBA #twolves #mavs
— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) December 31, 2013
Unfortunately for Minnesota, it was their struggles on the defensive end that put them in a bad position again. They had four starters who scored at least 16 points, and yet the game still came down to a foul call that might have been missed. And so the game becomes an appropriate representation of the proverbial hump over which the Timberwolves cannot get themselves once again.