Minnesota
Rebounding Woes Cost Spurs Another Close Game, This Time Against Minnesota
An inability to grab a pair of rebounds in the final moments of San Antonio’s Christmas Day game resulted in the Spurs losing by three points to the New York Knicks.
That same inability played a big role in the Spurs’ 112-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
The Timberwolves out-rebounded San Antonio 56-41 and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds (San Antonio had just eight). Rudy Gobert had a game-high 15 rebounds for Minnesota and his teammate Jaden McDaniels had 10. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with eight rebounds.
PUT IT BACK, SLIM!!! pic.twitter.com/tgtLnS3XZX
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 30, 2024
However, it’s not just that Minnesota had more rebounds in the game. It’s also when those rebounds came. One of the most crucial rebounds for the Timberwolves came with 15 seconds left to play.
With the Spurs trailing 111-109, Wembanyama was fouled and made the first of his two free throws. But he missed the second and the rebound was grabbed by Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo (who was subsequently fouled and made one of his two free throws to account for the final score).
A similar ending occurred against the Knicks on Christmas when New York’s Josh Hart grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final 17 seconds of that 117-114 contest.
READ MORE: Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama Surprises New York Locals with Chess Match
Two games ending in similar fashions isn’t a lot, but is interesting it’s happened twice. San Antonio ranks 11th in the league in rebounds per game (44.7 per game) which is well ahead of the Timberwolves (42.7, sixth-worst in the NBA).
The Spurs also have a center that can block shots without jumping. Wembanyama is no slouch in grabbing rebounds. He’s averaged 10.3 per game in December and had 18 against the Knicks, but Sunday’s night performance was good enough.
LET’S GOOOOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/IQmFBErnUl
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 30, 2024
Jeremy Sochan is second on the Spurs with 8.7 rebounds per game, but had just four Sunday night (as well as only five points). Devin Vassell had seven rebounds and both Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul had five.
The Spurs (16-16) will have a couple days to figure out what went wrong Sunday. San Antonio won’t be back in action until Tuesday when the Los Angels Clippers (18-13) come to town.
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A police officer in northern Minnesota unexpectedly passed away earlier this week.
The East Range Police Department said that Sgt. Cody Siebert passed away on Friday, less than 24 hours after being diagnosed with a brain infection.
The department said that Siebert was known for his happy-go-lucky personality and that “if you couldn’t get along with Cody, it was your fault.”
Siebert started at the K9 program in Babbitt with K9 Taconite (Tac) before going to the East Range Police Department.
“The hole left by Sgt. Siebert’s passing will be impossible to fill,” East Range police said. “We at ERPD love you and will miss you always. We have it from here.”
Mesabi East Schools also stated that the district was “truly blessed to have him walking our halls, greeting students, encouraging staff, and building relationships that went far beyond the badge.”
Click here for a GoFundMe to support Siebert’s family.
The Wild were taken down by the Utah Mammoth 5-2 on Friday night to end Minnesota’s winning streak at six games.
Lawson Crouse scored twice and U.S. Olympian Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists for Utah.
Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton also scored and Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves to help the Mammoth rebound from a 4-2 home loss to NHL-leading Colorado on Wednesday night in their return from the Olympic break. Utah began the night in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
U.S. Olympian Matt Boldy scored and assisted on Kirill Kaprizov’s goal for Minnesota. Second behind Central Division-rival Colorado in the West, the Wild are 9-2-1 in their last 12. They beat the Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night in Denver.
Cooley opened the scoring with a short-handed goal with 6:37 left in the first period. The former University of Minnesota star got the puck on the right side off a deflection and put a shot between Wallstedt’s legs for his 15th goal.
Keller scored his 18th at 4:26 of the second. Nick Schmaltz forced a turnover on a forecheck and fed Keller on the right side.
Crouse made it 3-0 at 7:49 of the second. He came down the middle, took a pass from Keller and beat Wallstedt with a backhander.
Kaprizov countered for Minnesota on a power play with 5:57 left in the second. He has 33 goals this season.
Hayton made it 4-1 on a power play at 1:19 of the third, and Crouse added his 16th of the season on a tip with 7:12 to go.
Boldy got his 35th of the season with 5:57 remaining.
Up next
Wild: Host St. Louis on Sunday.
Mammoth: Host Chicago on Sunday.
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