Protection » action in nearly 10 months last week

PHOENIX -- A furious fourth quarter made Minnesota a winner on the road for just the second time this season.Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 and the Timberwolves rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Phoenix Suns 98-85 on Friday night.Eric Bledsoe scored 23 for the Suns, who were just back from a six-game road trip.Minnesota used a 27-6 outburst to quickly erase the Phoenix lead and pull away, snapping a three-game losing streak.The Timberwolves outscored Phoenix 31-10 in the fourth quarter.I think that was our best fourth quarter of the year, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said.Phoenixs last field goal was Bledsoes driving layup with 9:06 to play.The Suns committed a season-high 26 turnovers, resulting in 23 Minnesota points. Phoenix also was just 6 of 26 from 3-point range.Turnovers, defense, you know, the whole nine, Bledsoe said. We did everything possible to lose this game tonight.All five Timberwolves starters reached double figures.They searched and they searched until they found something that worked, Suns coach Earl Watson said, and they stayed with it, which was Wiggins in pick-and-roll coverage.Brandon Knight added 15 points for Phoenix but only two in the second half. Devin Booker scored 11.For much of the game, it looked like the Timberwolves were headed for another loss in what has been a disappointing start to the season.I think its just us coming to a point where we didnt want the same story written about us, Towns said. I think were all tired of reading the same articles and hearing the same chatter from everyone how our third and fourth quarters are a problem.Phoenix led by as many as 11 in the third quarter and was up 77-67 early in the fourth. But the Suns missed four of six free throws while the Timberwolves went on a 16-3 run. Towns grabbed a loose ball and scored inside to cap the surge and give Minnesota an 83-80 lead with 5 1/2 minutes to play.The Timberwolves stretched it to 90-83 with 3:58 remaining when Wiggins string of 15 consecutive missed 3-pointers came to an end.Things werent going well in that game, Thibodeau said, but the fight was there and we just kept working the game and the game turned.Phoenix had been in control, although never by much, until its fourth-quarter collapse.Knight scored the last five points of the half to put Phoenix up 52-47. He made a 3-pointer from the corner as the shot clock expired with 34 seconds left and sank two free throws with 10.6 seconds to play until halftime.Bledsoe scored all of the Suns points in a 9-1 third-quarter run. His driving reverse layup capped the spurt and put Phoenix ahead 69-58 with 5:01 left in the quarter. The Suns led 75-67 entering the fourth.TIP-INSTimberwolves: The Timberwolves missed 14 of their first 15 shots in the second quarter. ... 6-foot-5 guard Zach LaVine had a soaring dunk over 7-1 Alex Len. ... Wiggins and Towns each scored seven in the fourth quarterSuns: Forward T.J. Warren missed the game with what the team called a mild head injury. ... Watson got his first technical of the season. ... Phoenix has won two in a row for the second time this season.THREE AMIGOSFor the third game in a row, the Suns started a three-guard lineup that included Bledsoe, Knight and Booker. Phoenix is 1-2 with that trio as starters.UP NEXTTimberwolves: Minnesota wraps up a three-game trip at Golden State on Sunday.Suns: Phoenix plays a rare afternoon game, hosting Denver on Sunday. Ashley Williams Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Joe Allen Jersey . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/joe-ledley-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Wales Soccer Jerseys . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Joe Allen Wales Jersey .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. What happened over the weekend that you need to know about? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best performances. This is where we say, Morning, Joe.Taking it outside: The Heritage Classic brought the game back outside between the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets at Investors Group Field on Sunday in Winnipeg. After a two-hour sun delay, the Oilers beat the Jets 3-0, improving to 5-1-0. The Oilers have won five of their first six games for the first time since 1985-86. Some believe the NHL is producing too many outdoor games ever since the Winter Classic became the leagues premier event, beginning in 2008. But playing outside is a great way to celebrate the game and its fans, and there should be more. Yes, it can be a logistical nightmare to host one of these games, but the league does a tremendous job dealing with the elements. The players enjoy the outdoor games. There should be more, not fewer, of them, and instead of picking only marquee matchups, the league should figure out a way to get more teams involved. Some pretty cool outdoor venues would be amazing places to watch a hockey game, including outdoor stadiums in Europe.Ice trouble: After the New York Islanders played their first regular-season game at Barclays Center last season, one player said the ice was like skating in quicksand. Well, one calendar year later, the players are still complaining about the ice. The Islanders have played four games at home this season and the ice has been described as unplayable. Coach Jack Capuano does not want to hear any excuses, of course, and captain John Tavares gave the standard both teams have to play on it line, but this cant continue. The unseasonably warm weather could have something to do wiith the issues, but the team is working close with the NHL to get fix the problem.dddddddddddd The Islanders are trying to become a perennial playoff contender, and the organization wants its product to have the best possible chance to be successful, so the ice has got to be better. The team hired a full-time ice manager during the offseason to help, but theres no reason this should still be an issue. Players will be at risk of injury if it isnt addressed. Barclays Center is a nice arena in a growing neighborhood of Brooklyn, but its terrible for hockey. The Islanders need their own arena. They can opt out of their 25-year lease with Barclays after next season. There should be other options, whether a new home or vast improvements to Barclays. If the ice doesnt get better, players arent going to want to play for the Islanders, and the ability to lure free agents will melt faster than the Barclays ice.Canucks falling back: Third-period goals by Nick Ritchie and Corey Perry helped the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Anaheims home opener at Honda Center. Many had the Canucks finishing near the bottom of the Pacific Division standings once again this season. In the early going, however, they have surprised some people with their play. But they have now dropped back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings (4-3 in the shootout) and the Ducks. Anaheim, a team that produced 103 points last season, was expected to do much of the same in 2016-17. The Ducks are 2-3-1 in their first six games but that will change, especially with more games at home ahead of them. ' ' '