2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 14th season the Timberwolves has competed in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Timberwolves signed free agents Troy Hudson and Kendall Gill. Kevin Garnett performed well throughout the season, winning the All-Star MVP award in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, and finishing second in MVP voting behind MVP Tim Duncan. Despite losing Terrell Brandon for the entire season to a knee injury, the Timberwolves posted a 12–1 record in February and finished the season with a 51–31 record, good enough to earn the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage.
2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Flip Saunders |
Owners | Glen Taylor |
Arena | Target Center |
Results | |
Record | 51–31 (.622) |
Place | Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 4th (Western) |
Playoff finish | First Round (Lost to Lakers 2–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KMSP-TV WFTC Fox Sports Net North |
Radio | WFAN |
However, for the seventh straight year in the Garnett era, the Timberwolves did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs. They lost to 5th seeds and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Following the season, Joe Smith was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, Anthony Peeler signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings, and Gill signed with the Chicago Bulls.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 29 | Forfeited pick | |||
2 | 52 | Marcus Taylor | PG | Michigan State |
Roster
2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Note
'Bold' = All-Star Selection
Roster Notes
- Guard Terrell Brandon missed the entire season due to a knee injury.
- Guard Felipe Lopez missed the entire season due to a torn ACL and MCL in left knee.
Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-San Antonio Spurs | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 33–8 | 27–14 | 17–7 |
x-Dallas Mavericks | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 33–8 | 27–14 | 18–6 |
x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 51 | 31 | .622 | 9 | 33–8 | 18–23 | 15–9 |
x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 15–9 |
Houston Rockets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 17 | 28–13 | 15–26 | 11–13 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 28 | 54 | .341 | 32 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 5–17 |
Denver Nuggets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 43 | 13–28 | 4–37 | 3–21 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-San Antonio Spurs | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
2 | y-Sacramento Kings | 59 | 23 | .720 | 1 |
3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 60 | 22 | .732 | – |
4 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 51 | 31 | .622 | 9 |
5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 50 | 32 | .610 | 10 |
6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 50 | 32 | .610 | 10 |
7 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13 |
8 | x-Phoenix Suns | 44 | 38 | .537 | 16 |
9 | Houston Rockets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 17 |
10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 40 | 42 | .488 | 20 |
11 | Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 22 |
12 | Memphis Grizzlies | 28 | 54 | .341 | 32 |
13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 27 | 55 | .329 | 33 |
14 | Denver Nuggets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 43 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
2002-03 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 0–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Boston | 3–0 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Cleveland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
Dallas | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
Memphis | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Miami | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
Milwaukee | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 |
Minnesota | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
New Jersey | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
New Orleans | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
New York | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Orlando | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Philadelphia | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Toronto | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 |
Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — |
Game log
Playoffs
West First Round
(4) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Timberwolves and Lakers.
Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(LAL-MIN) |
Venue | TV Time | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | April 20 | L.A. Lakers | 117 | Minnesota | 98 | 1-0 | Target Center, Minneapolis | ABC 3:30 EDT/2:30CT | Recap |
2 | April 22 | L.A. Lakers | 91 | Minnesota | 119 | 1–1 | Target Center, Minneapolis | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
3 | April 24 | Minnesota | 114 | L.A. Lakers | 110 | 1–2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | TNT 11:00 EDT/8:00PT | Recap |
4 | April 27 | Minnesota | 97 | L.A. Lakers | 102 | 2–2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | ABC 3:00 EDT/12:00PT | Recap |
5 | April 29 | L.A. Lakers | 120 | Minnesota | 90 | 3-2 | Target Center, Minneapolis | TNT 9:30 EDT/8:30CT | Recap |
6 | May 1 | Minnesota | 85 | L.A. Lakers | 101 | 4-2 | Staples Center, Los Angeles | TNT 11:00 EDT/8:00PT | Recap |
L.A. Lakers wins series 4–2 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin Garnett | 82| | ||||||||||
Kendall Gill | |||||||||||
Troy Hudson | |||||||||||
Marc Jackson | |||||||||||
Anthony Peeler | |||||||||||
Igor Rakocevic | |||||||||||
Reggie Slater | |||||||||||
Joe Smith | |||||||||||
Rod Strickland | |||||||||||
Wally Szczerbiak | |||||||||||
Gary Trent | |||||||||||
Mike Wilks | |||||||||||
Loren Woods |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin Garnett | |||||||||||
Kendall Gill | |||||||||||
Troy Hudson | |||||||||||
Marc Jackson | |||||||||||
Rasho Nesterovic | |||||||||||
Anthony Peeler | |||||||||||
Joe Smith | |||||||||||
Rod Strickland | |||||||||||
Wally Szczerbiak | |||||||||||
Gary Trent | |||||||||||
Mike Wilks | |||||||||||
Loren Woods |
Awards and records
- Kevin Garnett, All-NBA First Team
- Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
Transactions
References
See also
- 2002-03 NBA season