Damian Lillard is averaging around 22 points, 8 assists, and four rebounds per game through the first week, but is averaging over 5 turnovers as well.
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During a transformational week when both grief and joy overwhelmed him, Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns sat inside the shower of his luxurious Los Angeles hotel room Wednesday before he made his National Basketball Association debut and let the water and feelings rush over him. I was blessed to have the short time I had with him, to meet him and be in his presence, talk to him, touch him, laugh with him. “So I was emotionally drained coming out”, he said. “It was even emotional for me and I didn’t know him personally, but from afar I always respected him and I’ve always known who he was”.
The Jazz (2-1) allowed the fewest points per game in the league (94.9) during Snyder’s first season and have picked up where they left off, ranking among the league leaders in opponents’ field-goal percentage (37.2) and scoring defense (79.7). But Martin was stripped while trying to shoot a three, and the Blazers hung on.
A week of sorrow also included moments of elation and unity for a team that now wears “We” shooting warmups, an adaptation of last season’s theme when Saunders gave his coaches block letters that could be turned to spell either “Me” or “We” depending on his team’s commitment to sharing the ball and each other. He was laid to rest during a private service on Saturday.
That’s why a almost 20-minute tribute was held to honor Saunders before tip-off.
The Wolves used a few of the emotion from that tribute to Saunders to jump out to a quick start, building a 34-21 lead in the first quarter. That resulted in a couple of ugly losses to Phoenix, and Lillard became more aggressive against the Wolves. “I just tried to use my energy in a good way, and just use it for our team”.
The Wolves appeared to tie it with less than a minute remaining on Wiggins’ putback off a Towns miss, but the officials waved off the basket.
Trail Blazers: Stotts knew Saunders going back more than 20 years to their days in the CBA. He was always going to say something amusing, or do something to try to get you to smile. The Blazers outscored Minnesota 24-6 in second-chance points.
One obvious omission in the tribute was Wolves great Kevin Garnett, who definitely looked shaken up before the game. However, Garnett was able to return in the fourth. He went scoreless with just one rebound in 17 minutes….
Fortunately for us, great men like Flip never really go away.
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The 15-minute pregame program was beautifully done. But I just want to tell you – I love you, too. And few people sat down with dry eyes after Timberwolves General Manager Milt Newton recalled this conversation he had with Saunders.
