Regeln » ence. A four-game homestand

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves cant afford any more lazy starts like the one that got them beat two nights ago. They cant afford any more losses to teams with inferior records. Their one last, desperate playoff push begins right now. The Detroit Pistons are in the same boat. But they sure arent playing like it. Kevin Love had 28 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, and the Timberwolves led by 31 points in the third quarter en route to a 114-101 victory over the Pistons on Friday night. Kevin Martin scored 24 points and Ricky Rubio added 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who trail the Dallas Mavericks by five games for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with 21 games to go. "We have to have more discipline in what we do," said coach Rick Adelman, referring to the Wolves letting the Pistons back into the game in the fourth. "I dont care what the score is. We have to learn. Its hurt us in the past and it will hurt us again if we dont know the time and score." Greg Monroe had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Will Bynum scored all 17 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Pistons. But Detroit shot 40 per cent and lost for the ninth time in 11 games, yet another demoralizing performance for a team that started the night just three games back of eighth-place Atlanta in the East. "Tonight our lack of defence, especially in that first half, dictated our offence," Pistons coach John Loyer said. "Its pretty hard to really have great pace and play with offensive pace if youre so lackadaisical on the defensive end, which we were." Nikola Pekovic had 17 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota (31-30), which matched its win total of last season and led by 28 when the final quarter opened. But Bynum got going in the fourth, and his driving layup cut the lead to 112-101 with a minute to play. But the deficit proved too big for the Pistons to overcome. "Sometimes coach has to make a hockey substitution and put all five (starters) back in," Martin said with a smile. "Were just happy we got a win." The Timberwolves came home from an 11-day West Coast road trip that included four wins in five games to move them one game above .500 and 4 1/2 out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the demanding Western Conference. A four-game homestand against struggling opponents had them cautiously optimistic that they could sneak back into the mix. But they opened the crucial stretch with a clunker, falling behind 15-2 en route to losing on to the woeful New York Knicks on Wednesday night. The loss stung even more when Phoenix, Dallas and Memphis, the three teams right ahead of them in the playoff chase, all lost before the Wolves hit the floor. "We learned our lesson, we played aggressive tonight and everyone did a good job," Rubio said. With almost no margin for error the rest of the way, the Wolves jumped on the Pistons from the get-go. After struggling mightily from the field and playing tentatively in his previous two games, Martin came out very aggressive in the first quarter. He hit three of his first four shots and attacked the basket with a layup that gave the Wolves a 29-11 lead. The battle under the boards between two of the most physical, tenacious rebounding front lines in the league never materialized. Monroe picked up two quick fouls and a technical in the first quarter that limited his effectiveness early and Andre Drummond, who was averaging 13.0 rebounds per game and leads the league in offensive rebounds, had just two points and one rebound while playing 15 minutes over the first three quarters due to foul trouble. Drummond finished with six points and seven rebounds before fouling out. "There are a lot of young guys and a lot of players on this team that havent been able to experience the post-season," said Pistons forward Josh Smith, who had 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting. "They wont understand it until they get in and they get that feeling. Thats when that addiction starts to creep in." NOTES: Brandon Jennings had 17 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Pistons, but did not play in the fourth quarter. ... Wolves backup PG J.J. Barea, the subject of boos from the home crowd against the Knicks, had another rough game, with four points on 2-for-8 shooting. ... The rock band Arcade Fire, including basketball aficionado Win Butler, was in attendance. Joe Thomas Jersey . It certainly isnt a coincidence that Dwight Howard has scored at least 20 points in each game of the winning streak. Nick Chubb Jersey . -- Among the 31 players at the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, none feels closer to cracking the NHL roster than right winger Aaron Palushaj. http://www.officialclevelandbrownspro.co...-browns-jersey/. They say things like "stress is when you dont know what youre doing" and "I wasnt hired to motivate players, I was hired to coach motivated players." They ring as true now as they did when Mularkey heard them the first time playing tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame coach 25 years ago. David Njoku Jersey . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C. Denzel Ward Jersey . Perhaps their first trip to the city of Winnipeg in 16 years can serve as the shakeup they need.Marc Albrighton believes the fighting qualities shown by Leicester throughout the season have helped them in their title bid. Claudio Ranieris side came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, a result that moves them tantalisingly closer to winning the league. Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve Round thinks Leicester have played like champions this season Wes Morgan headed home from a free-kick to cancel out Anthony Martials opener and earn a point against United.Leicester will be crowned champions if Tottenham fail to win at Chelsea on Monday Night Football.But even if Spurs do secure maximum points at their London rivals, the Foxes can win the Premier League if they beat Everton at the King Power Stadium in a Saturday Night Football clash on May 7. Winger Albrighton came off the bench for the final 13 minutes at Old Trafford and he feels they showed they were up for the fight from early in the season.Weve got that never-say-die attitude. I think thats won us a lot of points this season, he said.Early on this season youve got the draws at Stoke and Southampton, we were 2-0 down in both of them, and 2-0 down in the home game against Villa [which Leicester went on to win 3-2]. Wes Morgan admitted Leicester had to work very hard for a point against an in-form Manchester United That showed our character early in the season and weve continued to do that.ddddddddddddeve gone behind at Old Trafford, which is a daunting place. Its a big pitch and the fans are behind them, but credit to the lads, we carried on going, got the equaliser and held on.Leicester took around 3,000 fans to Old Trafford on Sunday but Albrighton insisted they were not too disappointed at failing to win the league at the famous venue. I wouldnt say [we were] dejected. We came to win the game and to wrap up the title, but it wasnt to be, he added.We were probably thinking what could have been and that we could have been over there celebrating with our fans, but weve still got another couple of chances to do that and hopefully we can.Watch Chelsea v Tottenham on Monday Night Football - coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm. Leicester then face Everton on Saturday Night Football, with coverage beginning on Sky Sports 1 HD at 5pm. 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