1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 9th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired Stanley Roberts from the Los Angeles Clippers, and signed free agent Tom Hammonds. Kevin Garnett and second-year star Stephon Marbury both continued to establish themselves as two of the brightest stars in the NBA, as Garnett averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds per game and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. Marbury averaged 17.7 points and 8.6 assists per game. At midseason, the Timberwolves traded Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Anthony Peeler.
1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Flip Saunders |
Owners | Glen Taylor |
Arena | Target Center |
Results | |
Record | 45–37 (.549) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 7th (Western) |
Playoff finish | First Round (Lost to SuperSonics 2–3) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KLGT-TV, Midwest Sports Channel |
Despite losing Tom Gugliotta for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury after 41 games, the Timberwolves won seven of their final eight games posting their first winning record at 45–37. Third in the Midwest Division making their second consecutive playoff appearance. In the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves took a 2–1 series lead over the 2nd-seeded Seattle SuperSonics, but went on to lose the series in five games.[2] Following the season, Terry Porter signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, Roberts signed with the Houston Rockets, Cherokee Parks signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies, and Michael Williams was released.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 | Paul Grant | C | ![]() | Wisconsin |
2 | 43 | Gordon Malone | ![]() | West Virginia |
Roster
Minnesota Timberwolves roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster Notes
- Rookie center Paul Grant missed the entire season due to a foot injury.
Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 22–2 |
x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 | 31–10 | 25–16 | 18–6 |
x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 24–17 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 13–28 | 7–34 | 9–15 |
Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 | 14–27 | 5–36 | 4–20 |
Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 | 9–32 | 2–39 | 3–21 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
7 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
9 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
10 | Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
11 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
11 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
14 | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1997-98 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Boston | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 0–2 |
Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
Playoffs
West First Round
(2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the SuperSonics and Timberwolves.
Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(SEA-MIN) |
Venue | Box score | Television |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 24 | Seattle | 108 | Minnesota | 83 | 1-0 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 1 | TBS 9:30et |
2 | April 26 | Seattle | 93 | Minnesota | 98 | 1-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 2 | TNT 9:00et |
3 | April 28 | Minnesota | 98 | Seattle | 90 | 1-2 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 3 | TBS 9:30et |
4 | April 30 | Minnesota | 88 | Seattle | 92 | 2-2 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 4 | TBS 9:30et |
5 | May 2 | Seattle | 97 | Minnesota | 84 | 3-2 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 5 | NBC 3:30et |
Seattle wins series 3–2 |
Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Carr | 51 | 40 | 22.8 | .420 | .315 | .848 | 3.0 | 1.7 | .3 | .2 | 9.9 |
Bill Curley | 11 | 1 | 13.3 | .485 | .000 | .667 | 2.5 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 3.1 |
Kevin Garnett | 82 | 82 | 39.3 | .491 | .188 | .738 | 9.6 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 18.5 |
Tom Gugliotta | 41 | 41 | 38.6 | .502 | .118 | .821 | 8.7 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .5 | 20.1 |
Tom Hammonds | 57 | 2 | 20.0 | .516 | .000 | .697 | 4.8 | .6 | .3 | .3 | 6.1 |
Reggie Jordan | 57 | 1 | 8.5 | .478 | .000 | .569 | 1.7 | .9 | .6 | .2 | 2.6 |
Stephon Marbury | 82 | 81 | 38.0 | .415 | .313 | .731 | 2.8 | 8.6 | 1.3 | .1 | 17.7 |
Sam Mitchell | 81 | 33 | 27.6 | .464 | .349 | .832 | 4.8 | 1.3 | .8 | .3 | 12.3 |
Cherokee Parks | 79 | 43 | 21.6 | .499 | .000 | .651 | 5.5 | .7 | .5 | 1.1 | 7.1 |
Anthony Peeler | 30 | 24 | 33.0 | .445 | .453 | .780 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 1.7 | .2 | 13.0 |
Terry Porter | 82 | 8 | 21.8 | .449 | .395 | .856 | 2.0 | 3.3 | .8 | .2 | 9.5 |
Stanley Roberts | 74 | 44 | 17.9 | .495 | . | .481 | 4.9 | .4 | .3 | 1.0 | 6.2 |
Clifford Rozier | 6 | 0 | 5.0 | .500 | . | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
Doug West | 38 | 10 | 18.1 | .374 | .000 | .725 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .3 | .1 | 4.1 |
DeJuan Wheat | 34 | 0 | 4.4 | .400 | .471 | .600 | .3 | .7 | .2 | .0 | 1.7 |
Micheal Williams | 25 | 0 | 6.4 | .333 | .000 | .970 | .6 | 1.3 | .4 | .1 | 2.6 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bill Curley | 2 | 0 | 3.5 | . | . | . | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
Kevin Garnett | 5 | 5 | 38.8 | .480 | . | .778 | 9.6 | 4.0 | .8 | 2.4 | 15.8 |
Tom Hammonds | 5 | 1 | 22.6 | .429 | . | .750 | 4.4 | .4 | .0 | .2 | 7.2 |
Reggie Jordan | 2 | 0 | 14.5 | .625 | 1.000 | .500 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .5 | .0 | 6.0 |
Stephon Marbury | 5 | 5 | 41.8 | .306 | .280 | .783 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 2.4 | .0 | 13.8 |
Sam Mitchell | 5 | 5 | 35.4 | .448 | .214 | .895 | 5.4 | 1.6 | .2 | .2 | 14.4 |
Cherokee Parks | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | . | . | . | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
Anthony Peeler | 5 | 5 | 42.6 | .403 | .484 | 1.000 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | .6 | 16.2 |
Terry Porter | 5 | 4 | 37.6 | .429 | .400 | .833 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | .0 | 15.8 |
Stanley Roberts | 1 | 0 | 8.0 | .000 | . | .500 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
DeJuan Wheat | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | .500 | . | . | 1.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 |
Micheal Williams | 4 | 0 | 14.5 | .400 | .500 | .778 | 2.3 | 2.8 | .8 | .3 | 5.0 |
References
- 1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves
- "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Sonics Advance After Submerging the Spunky Timberwolves". New York Times. May 3, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.