2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves season

2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachFlip Saunders
OwnersGlen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record16–66 (.195)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Northwest)
Conference: 15th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports North
RadioWCCO
< 2013–14 2015–16 >

The 2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] The Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the league at 16–66 and missed the NBA Playoffs for the 11th straight year. For the first time since 2007–08 season, Kevin Love was not on the roster as he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and their future first round picks. Despite not making the playoffs, Andrew Wiggins won the NBA Rookie of the Year. Flip Saunders returned to the Timberwolves' head coach on his second stint. Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in August 2015 and he died two months later on October 25, 2015, at the age of 60. He was replaced by former Timberwolves player and former NBA Coach of the Year, Sam Mitchell for the following season. Kevin Garnett returned to the team for the first time since he left Minnesota in the offseason trade to the Boston Celtics.

Preseason

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Draft picks

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Main article: 2014 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 13 Zach LaVine SG  United States UCLA
2 40 Glenn Robinson III SF  United States Michigan
2 44 Markel Brown SG  United States Oklahoma State
2 53 Alessandro Gentile SF  Italy Olimpia Milano (Italy)

Regular season

[edit]

Standings

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Northwest DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y-Portland Trail Blazers5131.622–32‍–‍919‍–‍2211–582
Oklahoma City Thunder4537.5496.029‍–‍1216‍–‍2510–682
Utah Jazz3844.46313.021‍–‍2017‍–‍249–782
Denver Nuggets3052.36621.019‍–‍2211‍–‍306–1082
Minnesota Timberwolves1666.19535.09‍–‍327‍–‍344–1282
Western Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1z-Golden State Warriors *6715.817–82
2y-Houston Rockets *5626.68311.082
3x-Los Angeles Clippers5626.68311.082
4y-Portland Trail Blazers *5131.62216.082
5x-Memphis Grizzlies5527.67112.082
6x-San Antonio Spurs5527.67112.082
7x-Dallas Mavericks5032.61017.082
8x-New Orleans Pelicans4537.54922.082
9Oklahoma City Thunder4537.54922.082
10Phoenix Suns3943.47628.082
11Utah Jazz3844.46329.082
12Denver Nuggets3052.36637.082
13Sacramento Kings2953.35438.082
14Los Angeles Lakers2161.25646.082
15Minnesota Timberwolves1666.19551.082

Game log

[edit]
2014–15 game log
Total: 16–66 (Home: 9–32; Road: 7–34)
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 October 29 @ Memphis L 101–105 Thaddeus Young (26) Nikola Peković (8) Ricky Rubio (7) FedExForum
17,731 		0–1
2 October 30 Detroit W 97–91 Thaddeus Young (19) Nikola Peković (10) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
18,296 		1–1
November : 3–10 (home: 1–5; road: 2–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 November 1 Chicago L 105–106 Kevin Martin (33) Gorgui Dieng (8) Ricky Rubio (17) Target Center
19,356 		1–2
4 November 5 @ Brooklyn W 98–91 Kevin Martin (24) Thaddeus Young (12) Ricky Rubio (12) Barclays Center
16,302 		2–2
5 November 7 @ Orlando L 103–112 Kevin Martin (21) Gorgui Dieng (10) Mo Williams (7) Amway Center
16,379 		2–3
6 November 8 @ Miami L 92–102 Nikola Peković (19) Nikola Peković (11) Mo Williams (5) American Airlines Arena
19,735 		2–4
7 November 12 Houston L 101–113 Corey Brewer (18) Nikola Peković (13) Zach LaVine (9) Mexico City Arena
18,996 		2–5
8 November 14 @ New Orleans L 91–139 Andrew Wiggins (20) Gorgui Dieng (9) Mo Williams (4) Smoothie King Center
14,775 		2–6
9 November 15 @ Dallas L 117–131 Kevin Martin (34) Gorgui Dieng (8) Mo Williams (8) American Airlines Center
19,730 		2–7
10 November 19 New York W 115–99 Kevin Martin (37) Shabazz Muhammad (8) Mo Williams (13) Target Center
15,304 		3–7
11 November 21 San Antonio L 92–121 Anthony Bennett (20) Gorgui Dieng (10) Williams & Brewer (4) Target Center
12,414 		3–8
12 November 22 Sacramento L 101–113 Andrew Wiggins (29) Gorgui Dieng (10) Mo Williams (12) Target Center
13,191 		3–9
13 November 26 Milwaukee L 86–103 Corey Brewer (19) Wiggins & Dieng (8) Wiggins, Young & LaVine (4) Target Center
14,710 		3–10
14 November 28 @ L.A. Lakers W 120–119 Zach LaVine (28) Dieng & Brewer (7) Mo Williams (11) Staples Center
18,997 		4–10
15 November 30 @ Portland L 93–107 Shabazz Muhammad (28) Gorgui Dieng (8) Mo Williams (11) Moda Center
18,843 		4–11
December : 1–14 (home: 1–6; road: 0–8)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
16 December 1 @ L.A. Clippers L 101–127 Shabazz Muhammad (18) Shabazz Muhammad (10) Mo Williams (7) Staples Center
19,060 		4–12
17 December 3 Philadelphia L 77–85 Thaddeus Young (16) Gorgui Dieng (16) Mo Williams (7) Target Center
10,463 		4–13
18 December 5 Houston L 112–114 (OT) Shabazz Muhammad (20) Corey Brewer (7) Corey Brewer (6) Target Center
12,101 		4–14
19 December 6 @ San Antonio L 101–123 Zach LaVine (22) Anthony Bennett (10) Zach LaVine (10) AT&T Center
18,581 		4–15
20 December 8 Golden State L 86–102 Andrew Wiggins (21) Gorgui Dieng (11) Zach LaVine (8) Target Center
10,296 		4–16
21 December 10 Portland W 90–82 Andrew Wiggins (23) Jeff Adrien (11) Brewer & LaVine (5) Target Center
10,337 		5–16
22 December 12 Oklahoma City L 92–111 Wiggins & Muhammad (18) Gorgui Dieng (9) Corey Brewer (8) Target Center
13,557 		5–17
23 December 14 L.A. Lakers L 94–100 Shabazz Muhammad (28) Dieng & Muhammad (9) Corey Brewer (9) Target Center
15,008 		5–18
24 December 16 @ Washington L 95–109 Thaddeus Young (29) Gorgui Dieng (12) Zach LaVine (8) Verizon Center
15,823 		5–19
25 December 19 @ Boston L 98–114 Shabazz Muhammad (26) Bennett & Adrien (7) Thaddeus Young (6) TD Garden
17,042 		5–20
26 December 21 Indiana L 96–100 Mo Williams (24) Andrew Wiggins (9) Mo Williams (10) Target Center
12,687 		5–21
27 December 23 @ Cleveland L 104–125 Andrew Wiggins (27) Gorgui Dieng (11) Mo Williams (7) Quicken Loans Arena
20,562 		5–22
28 December 26 @ Denver L 102–106 Thaddeus Young (23) Gorgui Dieng (13) Mo Williams (13) Pepsi Center
14,516 		5–23
29 December 27 @ Golden State L 97–110 Thaddeus Young (17) Shabazz Muhammad (9) Zach LaVine (14) Oracle Arena
19,596 		5–24
30 December 30 @ Utah L 94–100 Shabazz Muhammad (30) Shabazz Muhammad (7) Young & Dieng (6) EnergySolutions Arena
18,947 		5–25
January : 3–14 (home: 1–8; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
31 January 1 Sacramento L 107–110 Andrew Wiggins (27) Gorgui Dieng (10) Mo Williams (8) Target Center
13,337 		5–26
32 January 3 Utah L 89–101 Wiggins & Williams (20) Jeff Adrien (8) Mo Williams (3) Target Center
13,702 		5–27
33 January 5 Denver L 101–110 Gorgui Dieng (22) Gorgui Dieng (12) Mo Williams (7) Target Center
10,386 		5–28
34 January 7 Phoenix L 111–113 Andrew Wiggins (25) Anthony Bennett (10) Mo Williams (11) Target Center
10,547 		5–29
35 January 9 @ Milwaukee L 84–98 Andrew Wiggins (20) Anthony Bennett (8) Andrew Wiggins (5) BMO Harris Bradley Center
15,480 		5–30
36 January 10 San Antonio L 93–108 Zach LaVine (19) Gorgui Dieng (12) Mo Williams (6) Target Center
17,871 		5–31
37 January 13 @ Indiana W 110–101 Mo Williams (52) Gorgui Dieng (10) Mo Williams (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
16,781 		6–31
38 January 16 @ Phoenix L 99–110 Mo Williams (26) Thaddeus Young (8) Thaddeus Young (6) US Airways Center
17,441 		6–32
39 January 17 @ Denver W 113–105 Andrew Wiggins (31) Robbie Hummel (13) Mo Williams (7) Target Center
14,821 		7–32
40 January 19 @ Charlotte L 80–105 Thaddeus Young (18) Gorgui Dieng (10) Mo Williams (4) Time Warner Cable Arena
17,989 		7–33
41 January 21 Dallas L 75–98 Andrew Wiggins (18) Thaddeus Young (11) Thaddeus Young (6) Target Center
13,737 		7–34
42 January 23 New Orleans L 84–92 Williams & Dieng (7) (15) Gorgui Dieng (15) Mo Williams (10) Target Center
14,978 		7–35
43 January 25 @ Atlanta L 100–112 Thaddeus Young (26) Wiggins, Williams & Dieng (7) Thaddeus Young (7) Philips Arena
18,049 		7–36
44 January 26 @ Oklahoma City L 84–92 Andrew Wiggins (23) Gorgui Dieng (18) Williams & Young (3) Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203 		7–37
45 January 28 Boston W 110–98 Kevin Martin (21) Gorgui Dieng (14) Zach LaVine (6) Target Center
11,434 		8–37
46 January 30 @ Philadelphia L 94–103 Kevin Martin (19) Gorgui Dieng (10) Kevin Martin (5) Wells Fargo Center
14,333 		8–38
47 January 31 Cleveland L 90–106 Andrew Wiggins (33) Nikola Peković (12) Lorenzo Brown (9) Target Center
19,562 		8–39
February : 5–6 (home: 4–3; road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
48 February 2 @ Dallas L 94–100 Kevin Martin (19) Nikola Peković (10) Mo Williams (5) American Airlines Center
19,989 		8–40
49 February 4 Miami W 102–101 Kevin Martin (30) Gorgui Dieng (9) Mo Williams (10) Target Center
11,517 		9–40
50 February 6 Memphis W 90–89 Andrew Wiggins (18) Thaddeus Young (8) Ricky Rubio (5) Target Center
14,388 		10–40
51 February 8 @ Detroit W 112–101 Nikola Peković (29) Kevin Martin (9) Mo Williams (9) Palace of Auburn Hills
16,075 		11–40
52 February 9 Atlanta L 105–117 Kevin Martin (21) Gorgui Dieng (12) Rubio & Young (5) Target Center
10,987 		11–41
53 February 11 Golden State L 91–94 Kevin Martin (21) Nikola Peković (13) Ricky Rubio (5) Target Center
14,303 		11–42
All-Star Break
54 February 20 Phoenix W 111–109 Kevin Martin (21) Gorgui Dieng (12) Ricky Rubio (14) Target Center
14,077 		12–42
55 February 23 @ Houston L 102–113 Andrew Wiggins (30) Gorgui Dieng (14) Ricky Rubio (7) Toyota Center
18,240 		12–43
56 February 25 Washington W 97–77 Kevin Martin (28) Nikola Peković (13) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
19,856 		13–43
57 February 27 @ Chicago L 89–96 Kevin Martin (18) Nikola Peković (11) Ricky Rubio (10) United Center
21,635 		13–44
58 February 28 Memphis L 97–101 Andrew Wiggins (25) Gorgui Dieng (9) Ricky Rubio (10) Target Center
19,356 		13–45
March : 3–12 (home: 1–6; road: 2–6)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
59 March 2 L.A. Clippers L 105–110 Gary Neal (19) Ricky Rubio (12) Ricky Rubio (11) Target Center
18,239 		13–46
60 March 4 Denver L 85–100 Andrew Wiggins (20) Gorgui Dieng (10) Ricky Rubio (10) Target Center
13,848 		13–47
61 March 7 Portland W 121–113 Kevin Martin (29) Peković & Rubio (8) Ricky Rubio (15) Target Center
19,356 		14–47
62 March 9 @ L.A. Clippers L 76–89 Adreian Payne (16) Adreian Payne (15) Ricky Rubio (12) Staples Center
19,060 		14–48
63 March 11 @ Phoenix L 97–106 Kevin Martin (16) Gorgui Dieng (7) Ricky Rubio (6) US Airways Center
17,367 		14–49
64 March 13 @ Oklahoma City L 99–113 Gorgui Dieng (21) Gorgui Dieng (14) Zach LaVine (7) Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203 		14–50
65 March 15 @ San Antonio L 97–123 Kevin Martin (19) Justin Hamilton (10) Lorenzo Brown (7) AT&T Center
18,581 		14–51
66 March 16 Brooklyn L 106–122 Kevin Martin (23) Justin Hamilton & Wiggins (10) Kevin Martin (6) Target Center
14,234 		14–52
67 March 18 @ Toronto L 100–105 Kevin Martin (37) Budinger & Rubio (8) Ricky Rubio (8) Air Canada Centre
19,800 		14–53
68 March 19 @ New York W 95–92 (OT) Kevin Martin (22) Gorgui Dieng (11) Zach LaVine (4) Madison Square Garden
19,812 		15–53
69 March 22 Charlotte L 98–109 Gorgui Dieng (16) Adreian Payne (9) Kevin Martin (9) Target Center
15,262 		15–54
70 March 23 @ Utah W 106–104 (OT) Zach LaVine (27) Adreian Payne (9) Lorenzo Brown (6) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911 		16–54
71 March 25 L.A. Lakers L 99–101 (OT) Andrew Wiggins (20) Lorenzo Brown (9) Zach LaVine (5) Target Center
13,438 		16–55
72 March 27 @ Houston L 110–120 Andrew Wiggins (31) Gorgui Dieng (12) Zach LaVine (8) Toyota Center
18,322 		16–56
73 March 29 @ New Orleans L 88–110 Andrew Wiggins (20) Adreian Payne (11) Lorenzo Brown (9) Smoothie King Center
17,576 		16–57
74 March 30 Utah L 84–104 Zach LaVine (21) Budinger & Hummel (7) Brown & LaVine (6) Target Center
12,229 		16–58
April : 0–8 (home: 0–4; road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
75 April 1 Toronto L 99–113 Andrew Wiggins (25) Zach LaVine (7) Brown & Wiggins (5) Target Center
12,699 		16–59
76 April 3 Orlando L 84–97 Andrew Wiggins (22) Justin Hamilton (9) Zach LaVine (5) Target Center
18,334 		16–60
77 April 7 @ Sacramento L 111–116 Kevin Martin (37) Andrew Wiggins (8) Zach LaVine (11) Sleep Train Arena
16,770 		16–61
78 April 8 @ Portland L 91–116 Andrew Wiggins (29) Justin Hamilton (9) Zach LaVine (6) Moda Center
19,499 		16–62
79 April 10 @ L.A. Lakers L 98–106 Andrew Wiggins (29) Andrew Wiggins (10) Andrew Wiggins (6) Staples Center
17,880 		16–63
80 April 11 @ Golden State L 101–110 Zach LaVine (37) Justin Hamilton (10) Andrew Wiggins (9) Oracle Arena
19,596 		16–64
81 April 13 New Orleans L 88–100 Zach LaVine (24) Robbie Hummel (10) Zach LaVine (7) Target Center
13,009 		16–65
82 April 15 Oklahoma City L 113–138 Kevin Martin (29) Anthony Bennett (9) Zach LaVine (13) Target Center
18,250 		16–66
2014–15 season schedule

Player statistics

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Ragular season

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Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Andrew Wiggins SF 82 82 2,969 374 170 86 50 1,387 36.2 4.6 2.1 1.0 .6 16.9
Zach LaVine PG 77 40 1,902 214 276 54 10 778 24.7 2.8 3.6 .7 .1 10.1
Gorgui Dieng C 73 49 2,193 609 146 71 126 710 30.0 8.3 2.0 1.0 1.7 9.7
Chase Budinger SF 67 4 1,286 198 64 44 10 457 19.2 3.0 1.0 .7 .1 6.8
Anthony Bennett PF 57 3 894 216 48 27 16 298 15.7 3.8 .8 .5 .3 5.2
Thaddeus Young† PF 48 48 1,605 245 135 86 17 685 33.4 5.1 2.8 1.8 .4 14.3
Robbie Hummel SF 45 4 742 134 27 16 9 198 16.5 3.0 .6 .4 .2 4.4
Mo Williams† PG 41 19 1,149 98 261 30 8 499 28.0 2.4 6.4 .7 .2 12.2
Kevin Martin SG 39 36 1,302 142 89 33 1 779 33.4 3.6 2.3 .8 .0 20.0
Shabazz Muhammad SG 38 13 866 154 44 18 7 512 22.8 4.1 1.2 .5 .2 13.5
Nikola Peković C 31 29 815 234 27 19 12 386 26.3 7.5 .9 .6 .4 12.5
Adreian Payne† PF 29 22 720 158 30 18 9 208 24.8 5.4 1.0 .6 .3 7.2
Lorenzo Brown PG 29 7 549 70 90 28 6 122 18.9 2.4 3.1 1.0 .2 4.2
Glenn Robinson III† SG 25 0 108 14 3 3 0 29 4.3 .6 .1 .1 .0 1.2
Corey Brewer† SF 24 16 680 94 78 54 4 251 28.3 3.9 3.3 2.3 .2 10.5
Ricky Rubio PG 22 22 692 125 193 38 1 226 31.5 5.7 8.8 1.7 .0 10.3
Troy Daniels† SG 19 0 154 19 13 3 0 53 8.1 1.0 .7 .2 .0 2.8
Justin Hamilton† C 17 9 423 86 24 19 25 153 24.9 5.1 1.4 1.1 1.5 9.0
Jeff Adrien PF 17 0 215 77 15 4 9 60 12.6 4.5 .9 .2 .5 3.5
Gary Neal† SG 11 1 262 35 20 7 0 130 23.8 3.2 1.8 .6 .0 11.8
Arinze Onuaku C 6 1 68 21 4 1 3 27 11.3 3.5 .7 .2 .5 4.5
Kevin Garnett† PF 5 5 98 26 8 5 4 38 19.6 5.2 1.6 1.0 .8 7.6
Miroslav Raduljica C 5 0 23 5 0 1 0 8 4.6 1.0 .0 .2 .0 1.6
Sean Kilpatrick SG 4 0 72 6 4 3 0 22 18.0 1.5 1.0 .8 .0 5.5
Ronny Turiaf C 2 0 19 1 2 0 0 0 9.5 .5 1.0 .0 .0 .0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Injuries

[edit]

Roster

[edit]
2014–15 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 7 Brown, Lorenzo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1990–08–26 NC State
SF 10 Budinger, Chase 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1988–05–22 Arizona
C 5 Dieng, Gorgui 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1990–01–18 Louisville
PF 21 Garnett, Kevin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy (IL)
C 41 Hamilton, Justin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1990–04–01 LSU
SF 4 Hummel, Robbie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1989–03–08 Purdue
SG 23 Martin, Kevin 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 1983–02–01 Western Carolina
SF 15 Muhammad, Shabazz 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1992–11–13 UCLA
SG 12 Neal, Gary 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1984–10–03 Towson
PF 50 Onuaku, Arinze 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1987–07–13 Syracuse
PF 3 Payne, Adreian 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1991–02–19 Michigan State
C 14 Peković, Nikola 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 307 lb (139 kg) 1986–01–03 Montenegro
PG 9 Rubio, Ricky 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1990–10–21 Spain
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2015–04–07

Transactions

[edit]
Main article: List of 2014–15 NBA season transactions

Trades

[edit]

Free agents

[edit]

Re-signed

[edit]
Player Signed Contract Ref.

Additions

[edit]
Player Signed Former team Ref.

Subtractions

[edit]
Player Reason left Date New team Ref.

Awards

[edit]
Player Award Date awarded Ref.

Andrew Wiggins won the 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2014 NBA Draft Order". NBA. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
[edit]
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