was the NHLs First Star for November but | Forum

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves had a combined record of 5-16 heading into their game on Thursday night, which may not seem an ideal matchup to be featured on TNT. Tom Barrasso Jersey .But the network folks understand that these two long-suffering franchises boast some of the most intriguing young talent in the league. And the Timberwolves showed just how much further along they are in the rebuilding process.Andrew Wiggins had 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 110-86 victory over the 76ers.Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Gorgui Dieng added 12 points and 10 boards for the Wolves (4-7). The Wolves shot 50.6 percent and avoided the poor third quarter that had plagued them this season.I think that theyre a lot further ahead for all the obvious reasons, and its not a lack of respect or disservice to our guys at all, Sixers coach Brett Brown said. This group that youre looking at played with each other all last year, many, many, many, many games together.Joel Embiid had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes after sitting out the front end of Philadelphias back-to-back on Wednesday night. Dario Saric led the way with 16 points, but the 76ers lost their 21st straight road game.Theyre young and theyre still going to get better, and thats where weve got to get to, Embiid said. When you learn how to play with each other, its easier to play.Wiggins made 14 of 20 shots, including 3 of 6 3-pointers. The Wolves had been outscored by a league-worst 91 points in 10 third quarters this season, but they led by 28 at halftime on Thursday night, rendering a minus-1 in this game moot.At times last year I would drift to the corner and stay there, Wiggins said. Im just being more active. My awareness is higher. Im doing more.In a matchup of two of the best young big men in the league, Towns blew past Embiid to throw down a ferocious dunk in the fourth quarter to get the crowd on its feet. He made 12 of 18 shots.TIP-INS76ers: The last time the Sixers won a road game was Jan. 20 at Orlando. ... Nik Stauskas had 13 points and five rebounds. ... Philly scored just 33 points on 31 percent shooting, tied for its lowest scoring output of the season.Timberwolves: Wiggins entered the game leading the NBA in 3-point shooting at 55 percent. ... F Shabazz Muhammad (sore right knee) and G/F Brandon Rush (right big toe) were both out again.NERVOUS FANSEmbiid missed the first two seasons after being drafted because of foot problems, and even in visiting arenas there is an audible gasp every time the 7-foot center falls to the court. He got tangled with Ricky Rubio early in the first quarter and appeared to be clutching his left ankle as he went to the bench. He was able to return in the second quarter, much to the relief of NBA fans everywhere.He waited so long to actually play and now hes dominating, said Wiggins, who was college teammates with Embiid at Kansas. Hes playing short minutes, but hes still getting numbers and playing really good.Embiid hit the deck again in the fourth when Wolves forward Adreian Payne threw him down while wrestling for a rebound. Payne was given a technical foul.GOOD CROWDThe Wolves announced attendance of 16,866, easily the largest of the year. It came one game after the arena was half-empty for a game against Charlotte. The low attendance early has been a troubling sign for an organization that was hoping to turn the corner this season.The Wolves targeted this game and select others to cluster their group tickets in hopes of padding attendance. They also offered season ticket holders two free additional tickets to the game to try to get more fans, which have been slow to spend their money this season thanks to Minnesotas 3-7 start, out to the game.UP NEXT76ers: Head back home to host Phoenix on Saturday.Timberwolves: Hit the road after a four-game home stand to face Memphis for the third time already this season. Ron Francis Penguins Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Ron Francis Jersey . JOHNS, N. http://www.penguinsauthenticofficial.com/jack-johnson-jersey/ . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. One team is coming off a lost weekend. The other is coming off a lost homestand.So things could be salty Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena as the Colorado Avalanche start a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators in their third meeting in five weeks.While Colorado (9-13-1) finished an 0-4-1 homestand Saturday night with a 3-0 loss to Dallas, Nashville (11-9-4) ate a 4-2 defeat Sunday to Philadelphia, wrapping up an 0-1-1 weekend. Making that more galling was that the Predators blew a 4-1 third-period lead Saturday against New Jersey, losing 5-4 in overtime.A couple of mistakes and two or three minutes cost us (Saturday), Nashville defenseman Roman Josi said. I thought we played a pretty good game and deserved to win (Sunday). Our special teams have got to be better -- on the penalty kill and the power play.The Predators penalty kill, which was flawless at home until giving up the game-tying goal Saturday, coughed up two markers to the Flyers Wayne Simmonds on Sunday. Nashville also failed on two power-play opportunities in the first period and didnt receive another one for the games remainder.It was a 180-degree turnaround from the way most of the season has gone at home, where the Predators were 8-1-1 and outscoring the opposition 39-14 before the third period on Saturday.Everyone needs the points, no matter where you are in the standings, left winger Filip Forsberg said. The inspiration level needs to be higher from the start, and even in the last periods.The Avalanches arrival in town could be the elixir Nashville needs. The PPredators beat Colorado 5-1 and 5-3 last month, which constitute two-thirds of their victories away from Nashville. Matt Murray Jersey. .While the Avalanche are 5-5-0 on the road, their upcoming trip might not provide much reason for optimism. Their other stops are Boston, Montreal and Toronto.Just playing horrible hockey, center Nathan MacKinnon said. It starts with us key guys. All of us need to be better.Adding injury to repeated insult, defenseman Erik Johnson suffered a broken fibula after blocking a shot in the second period Saturday night and will miss 6-8 weeks. To replace Johnson, Colorado called up defenseman Cody Goloubef from its AHL affiliate in San Antonio.Whats more, the Avalanche remain without captain Gabriel Landeskog (lower-body injury), who skated at practice Monday and will make the trip but will miss his ninth straight game Tuesday night. Colorado has managed just 49 goals in 22 matches and is putting only 29.2 shots on net per game.We all want to make a difference, but unfortunately were not getting it done, forward Jarome Iginla said.Semyon Varlamov (5-11-0, 3.02) will get the start in net for the Avalanche, while Pekka Rinne (10-5-4, 2.18) figures to get the call for Nashville. Rinne was the NHLs First Star for November but allowed five goals on just 22 shots against New Jersey.This is the last game of a three-game homestand for the Predators, who head to Dallas on Thursday and Arizona on Saturday. ' ' '