30 Greatest Moments In Timberwolves History
By Ben Beecken
#22 – Beating Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls For The First Time
The 1997-98 Chicago Bulls finished the season with a 62-20 record en route to a memorable NBA Finals win against Karl Malone and John Stockton‘s Utah Jazz. But they could not defeat 21 year-old Kevin Garnett and his Minnesota Timberwolves.
Garnett finished the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists. Twenty year-old Stephon Marbury put up 23 points, eight assists, and three steals and Tom Gugliotta tallied 23 points of his own plus seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Michael Jordan managed 33 points but took 28 shots to get there. Luc Longley was the second-leading scorer for Chicago with 16 points while Steve Kerr scored 13 points off the bench.
It was a sign that the Wolves were making progress. On the heels of a 40-win playoff season the year before, Flip Saunders’ young stars were en route to 45 wins and another playoff year prior to the 1998 NBA lockout and Stephon Marbury forcing his way out of the Twin Cities.
Even still, it was a coming out party of sorts for Garnett and the Timberwolves franchise, and beating a 62-win squad led by the best player of all-time is certainly a milestone accomplishment.
Next: #21 - Malik Sealy Downs The Pacers