Dein erstes Forum » half of the court.20-17. Match point.I shouldnt have g

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are a collection of young talented players who are still trying to figure out how to maintain big leads once they get them.Orlando, meanwhile, is just trying to find its way.On Wednesday night, the Timberwolves may have taken a critical step in their journey, while the Magic are looking like they have far more questions than answers after Minnesota jumped to a 30-point first-half lead before coming away with a 123-107 victory.Zach LaVine scored 37 points and Andrew Wiggins added 29 for the Timberwolves (2-5), who bounced back from a defensive meltdown a night earlier to record their first road win of the season.There is a small difference between winning and losing, said Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak. You take a hard look at the mental mistakes. The biggest thing is eliminating all of the ways you beat yourself first.For the Timberwolves that meant not doing the little things to squander 20-plus point leads as they have done this season. When the Magic pulled within 11 points in the second half, Minnesota consistently came up with plays to stretch the lead back to 20. Tyus Jones came off the bench to come up with a couple of key steals for Minnesota, which made 13 3-pointers.Thats what you can be, LaVine said. It doesnt matter whose hitting in a game, we find the man with the hottest hand. We have so many dynamic players on this team. Once we get it all clicking you get a result like this tonight.Coach Frank Vogel doesnt seem to have that luxury at this point as the Magic (3-5) got off to another slow start and found themselves vulnerable on defense all game. Orlando, which has lost two straight, allowed Minnesota to shoot nearly 52 percent from the field and 57 percent from 3-point range.Were working to correct (the letdowns), but we havent figured it out yet, Vogel said. Its a long NBA season. Blowouts happen when you hit teams that are red hot. You hope youll do better than we did tonight.Karl-Anthony Towns dominated inside with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Shabazz Muhammad scored 13 points and Gorgui Dieng had 12.Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Elfrid Payton had 18 points and Evan Fournier added 13.TIP-INSTimberwolves: Minnesota had lost eight straight in Orlando ... The Timberwolves rank fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 38.8 percent entering Wednesday nights game ...The Timberwolves came into Wednesday night allowing 111.0 points and allowing opponents to shoot nearly 52 percent from the field during their last three games, all losses.Magic: Vogel got so frustrated with his starting unit that went to his bench quicker than usual, bringing in D.J. Augustin, Jeff Green and Bismack Biyomboa for Payton, Vucevic and Serge Ibaka in the first 4 minutes of the game. ... Orlando was averaging 16.0 second-chance points per game entering Wednesday night, which ranked them fourth in the NBA. Last season, the Magic averaged just 12.6 second-chance points.NO KNEE-JERK DECISIONSThere has been speculation that Vogel may be ready to make a change to his lineup, inserting Biyombo into the starting unit in place of Vucevic to improve the interior defense. But Vogel he doesnt feel such a move is necessary at this point.When it becomes apparent to me and Im not a knee-jerk coach, he said when asked what will make him know its time to make a change. If its needed you will see it. I wouldnt expect it anytime soon.SAME FACES, NEW PLACESVogel and Thibodeau met for years as Central Division foes as coaches of the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, respectively.They are both starting over in new places this season with Thibodeau heading up the Timberwolves and Vogel coaching the Magic.UP NEXTTimberwolves: Return home after a three-game trip to take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.Magic: End a two-game home stint against the Utah Jazz on Friday night.Amed Rosario Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Bartolo Colon Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/1590l-drew-smith-jersey-mets.html . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Donn Clendenon Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Mike Bordick Jersey . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less.Wikipedia tells me Lin Dan has a fetish for tattoos. So, as he wanders into the arena, aura alongside the racquet bag, I decide to spend a couple of minutes spotting some. He wears a sleeveless red shirt, conforming to the Chinese team dress code I am guessing -- though this man is no conformist. Wiki also tells me these tattoos have been the subject of controversy for their messaging but one glance at Lin and youd know, he isnt one to care. I believe Wiki.Kidambi Srikanth follows him out. He doesnt need to refer to Wikipedia to know everything there is to know about the man he is playing -- all the trophies, the world championships, the gold medals. For Srikanth this may as well be an out-of-body experience. He is standing across the net from his idol, chosen to derail his quest for a hat-trick of Olympic gold medals. He knows what beating him feels like already. The last time they clashed, in Lins backyard a little under two years ago, Srikanth crafted a memory to last a lifetime.This is not a day for sentiment though. A Super Series event comes along ever so often in the course of a year. An Olympics, once in four years. A Chinese journalist seated next to me says Lin isnt quite the player he used to be, but hey, he is Lin Dan.Srikanth takes the first point as their contest begins and then endures a wretched run for the next few minutes. 1-2. 1-5. 1-12. Shuttles are drifting out of court or crashing into the net. Lin is everywhere at the same time. Springing away, leaping over the shuttle to give it a spank. It would seem an autograph hunter has been mistaken for a rival but Lin is insistent on giving him a sound thrashing anyway.We began the competition with three courts in use at Pavilion Four in Riocentro, the venue for the badminton events. But now that the initial rounds have been completed, two courts have been dispensed with. So in a massive coliseum, the two combatants in its middle are the central figures in the drama. Crowds at the badminton have been excitable and generous towards the underdog. So as the first game is done and dusted in all of 16 minutes, with Srikanth claiming just six points, they work up the vocal chords.The Indians sit alongside a robust Chinese cheering crew. They raise their flags alternately and thus far, the Chinese have had the bragging rights. It is all good-humoured. Srikanth starts the second game with three consecutive points. Thats already half as many as he won in the entire first game. Downcast journalists, by now beyond frustrated at having reported the same medal-less narrative for nearly two weeks, arent convinced yet. 6-2. 9-5. 11-5.Hello.Lin Dan, jaiyoou, I hear a squeaky voice urge their man from the side of the court.I turn to the journalist next to me ask what that means. He tells me with a twinkly smile, Fuel the car, Lin Dan.We chuckle in unison. There is a vitality to this contest now. Srikanth is no longer the autograph hunter being pulverised by his idol. He is here to play and unleashes a tornado of shots. Lin is concoction of subtlety and anger. Racquet out front, eyes wide open, he caresses the shuttle, commanding it to float over the net and then bashes it with impunity at his next go. He is Boris Beckerian in his pyrotechnics, surging to his left and surging to his right, falling flat on the floor and rising again, but somehow the shuttle makes it over to the other side.But now, Srikanth is turbo-charged as well. The arena throbs. A ferocious exchange -- whoop-whoop-whoop -- as the shuttle hurtles between the two players ends with Srikanth claiming the point. He is 14-8 up. Even the sanguine Pullela Gopichand in his corner is animated. Fist pumps. Come-ons. Yesses.Jeetega bhai jeetega, India jeetega.Lin Dan, jaiyoouLess than half an hour ago you wouldnt have thought it, but this match is now even. One game apiece. The flag waving is being shared equally now. The banter is between equals. Heres one of the great ones of this game against a man from Guntur on a stage he has owned with impunity in the past.dddddddddddd The boxing arena is a stones throw away from badminton but in this moment it would seem the pugilism has been relocated. Lin circles his side of the court at the end of a point, Srikanth takes gentle, assured steps.Gopichand whispers a message into Srikanths ears as they hustle back on to court. The decider is here and it is here that the ebb and flow of the contest rips into the hearts of those watching. Supporters bubbling with excitement are now intently aware that something very special is unfolding. Eyes dig in. A British journalist seated to my right has ignored the match so far, working perhaps on a tight deadline. She flips down her laptop and is watching now. My Chinese friend is giving me an appreciative nod every now and then now, lower lip puckered up in admiration.Srikanth is a torrent of energy now. One dimensional in his attacking methods in the past, Gopichand has inculcated a more nuanced dimension to his game. Lin is constructing a point. He pushes the Indian back, who spars without inhibition by whipping it right back. The shuttle is travelling the maximum distance it can without falling out of play and then suddenly the minimum. They are both poachers at the net, dabbing it with soft hands but a firm wrist. It is mind-numbingly precise play. The shuttle travels only as much as it needs to vertically, crosses the net to the other side and then succumbs to gravity.One must stand and watch now. 6-6. 7-7. 9-8. 11-8. Guess what, into our final mid-game break of this contest Kidambi Srikanth is leading Lin Dan. Somewhere in there they play a 40-shot rally, the longest of the match. My match notes now are an incomprehensible scribble. Sweaty palms and pens arent allies.13-10. Eight points away. 13-13. Damn. 14-13. Like grown men in a shipwreck fighting for the same life jacket, this is now a life-or-death contest. Punches are being thrown, eyes are being poked, all bets are off. Lin reclaims the lead. 15-14. 16-15. A shimmy of the wrist and an obedient racquet kills all momentum on the shuttle. It falls limply over, even a scrambling Srikanth is bemused at the audacity of that shot. This is why you are my idol, Super Dan, but lets get back to this now, shall we?17-16. 19-17. Every point is an occasion now. The Chinese coach recoils from his chair on the sidelines. What is with these Indians? That tall woman yesterday and now this 23-year-old man. Let it go will you.We have gone well past the one-hour mark. There is a finish line in sight. This isnt Bolt v Gatlin though, with a clear winner pulling away as it approaches. 19-17 and Lin is well aware he isnt finished yet. Srikanth leaps in search for a smash to Lins backhand. But perhaps he catches the shuttle a centimetre lower than he should have. Or perhaps the wrist cocked at a slightly acuter angle than he would have liked. In that moment, the arena gasps. The shuttle rattles into the net, shaking it violently, before falling over to Srikanths half of the court.20-17. Match point.I shouldnt have gone for a smash at 17-19, Srikanth would say later. At crucial stages I dont think experience really matters. That smash was the game-changer. Had I kept it simple it would have been 18-19.When it ends there is a victor on the scoreboard and a vanquished. But Lin, this tormentor of opponents and carrier of tattoos, knows he has been in a battle that has left him battered, bruised and utterly spent. The record books will reflect Kidambi Srikanth returned from the 2016 Olympic games in Rio having reached the quarterfinal. But for those of us who were there, Lin Dan included, it will resonate as an hour and a bit of stupendous gallantry.We just wanted to be aggressive and not commit simple mistakes, Srikanth tells us later. Overall there wasnt any special strategy, but to just stay in the rally.You stayed in them good, young man. ' ' '