theconcordian.org • October 31, 2019 THE CONCORDIAN 6 SPORTS Wiggins leads Wolves past Heat 116-109 with late 3 barrage when he has to kick it up,” Towns said. stretch, I’m going to give it my all to start a season, Towns went 2 for 11 from BY DAVE CAMPBELL “For some reason, he always hits those make a play,” Wiggins said. the field after the first quarter. ... The AP SPORTS WRITER shots at the end when we need him the After started the season 0 for 13 from Wolves have won four straight home most.” long range, Wiggins had a well-timed openers. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Kendrick Nunn had 25 points on first make with 5:52 left to tie the game NUNN BETTER Wiggins has been the face of unfulfilled 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range, at 96. He gave the Wolves the lead for Nunn, one of four rookies on a Heat potential for the Minnesota Timber- Duncan Robinson pitched in with 21 good with 2:56 left, the first of three roster that’s half-filled with under-25 wolves, beginning his sixth NBA season points, and Justise Winslow scored 20 3-pointers he hit in as many posses- players, has been quite the fill-in for and starting the second year of his $147 for the Heat, who played again without sions. With 1:45 remaining, he simply Butler on the wing over his first three million maximum contract. new star Jimmy Butler and took their dribbled back and forth on the left wing NBA games. Nunn came off the bench The Timberwolves haven’t come first loss after playing in Milwaukee the and, with Robinson trying to guard him, in the G League for the Santa Cruz close to giving up on him, though, and day before. stepped back to swish the inevitable Warriors last season, but he parlayed a Wiggins put on a late-game show in “That’s two straight games where the launch for a 110-101 edge that gave strong Summer League performance for their home opener that provided anoth- first half really hurt us and we expended him 11 straight points. His teammates the Heat into a prominent spot in the er reminder of why they’re counting on a lot of emotional energy,” coach Erik mobbed him on the court after the Heat rotation so far. more progress. Spoelstra said. “In the first half, we just called a timeout. NO JEERING JIMMY Wiggins made four 3-pointers and didn’t bring the necessary passion and “If you’re a scorer, you see the ball go Butler became a father earlier this scored 16 of his 25 points in the final communication.” in, you start to get some rhythm, now week when his girlfriend had a baby, his six minutes, propelling the undefeated After erasing a 21-point deficit in the you can become a lot more dangerous,” paternity leave delaying the debut for Timberwolves to a 116-109 victory over third quarter to beat NBA MVP Giannis Spoelstra said. “In the fourth quarter, Miami’s prize offseason addition. The the on Sunday night. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in over- basically you really have to treat every- crowd in Minnesota was also deprived “It’s going to take time for all of it to time Saturday, the Heat didn’t flinch af- body as a threat, regardless of where of the now-annual opportunity to direct come together with our emphasis and ter trailing by 13 at the end of the first they are on the scouting report. You just boos at Butler, who forced his way out changing of systems, but he is going to quarter and facing a double-digit mar- can’t give open looks.” a year ago after helping the Wolves in have a good year,” coach Ryan Saunders gin for most of the second period. Goran TIP-INS 2017-18 end a 13-season absence from said. “I’m in his corner, and I want to Dragic swished a 3-pointer for a 57-53 Heat: With Butler out, Derrick Jones the playoffs. The fans had their first make sure he knows that.” lead, capping an 18-2 run just before the Jr. (groin) injured and Dion Waiters chance to jeer last spring when Butler How often does Wiggins hear that? break. and James Johnson still away from the played here with Philadelphia. “Every day he’s telling me I’m going The Heat had a lead as big as 84-74 team for disciplinary reasons, the bench UP NEXT to have a good year,” he said. “Just trust on Robinson’s 3-pointer late in the third was thinned to six backups, including Heat: Host Atlanta on Tuesday. in the system.” quarter, but Towns answered from be- a pair of two-way players. Veteran for- Spoelstra said Butler will play against Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 points hind the arc in the final minute of that ward Udonis Haslem (wrist) was active the Hawks, who are one of six unbeaten and 11 rebounds for the Wolves (3-0), period to give the Wolves momentum. for the first time this season but did not teams left in the NBA. who matched the second-best start in Adapting to a faster-paced, 3-point- play. ... The Heat went 10 for 15 from the Timberwolves: Play at Philadelphia this long-languishing franchise’s his- friendly style under Saunders, they line, perpetuating a problem on Wednesday. Robert Covington, the tory. They were 6-0 in 2001-02 and 3-0 climbed back into striking range with from last season. centerpiece of the package acquired in 2013-14. The Wolves have trailed in stiffer defense before Wiggins delivered Timberwolves: After joining Kevin for Butler, missed both games against all three games, and Wiggins produced the decisive blows. Garnett (1999-2000) as the only play- the 76ers last season because of a bone clutch contributions in two of them. “I’m going to keep at it. Whenever ers in franchise history to post consec- bruise on his right knee. “He’s a star player, and he knows they need me to make a play down the utive 30-point, 10- games to

Find us online next week at theconcordian.org