# 2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2008–09 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 20th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished the season coached by Kevin McHale. After the season, McHale was dismissed though he would return as head coach for the Houston Rockets for the shortened 2011–12 season and would later guide the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in 2015.
The Timberwolves drafted O. J. Mayo with the third pick in the first round of the 2008 draft. Soon, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Kevin Love. The team also drafted Mario Chalmers, but his rights was soon traded to the Miami Heat, where he would win two championships.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 3 | O. J. Mayo (traded to Memphis) | SG | United States | USC (fr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Nikola Peković | PF | Montenegro | Panathinaikos (Greece) 1986 |
| 2 | 34 | Mario Chalmers (traded to Miami) | PG | United States | Kansas (jr.) |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Northwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y–Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | — | 33–8 | 21–20 | 12–4 | 82 |
| x–Portland Trail Blazers | 54 | 28 | .659 | — | 34–7 | 20–21 | 11–5 | 82 |
| x–Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 | 33–8 | 15–26 | 10–6 | 82 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | 11–30 | 13–28 | 3–13 | 82 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 23 | 59 | .280 | 31 | 15–26 | 8–33 | 4–12 | 82 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | — |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 3 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 53 | 29 | .646 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 15 |
| 7 | x-New Orleans Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 |
| 8 | x-Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 |
| 11 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41 |
| 12 | Memphis Grizzlies | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 23 | 59 | .280 | 42 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 |
| 15 | Sacramento Kings | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 |

### Game log

2008–09 game log :
October: 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 29
Sacramento
W 98–96
Al Jefferson (21)
Al Jefferson (10)
Mike Miller (6)
Target Center 17,820
1–0 :
November: 3–11 (home: 1–6; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
November 1
Dallas
L 85–95
Rashad McCants (18)
Al Jefferson (12)
Randy Foye (6)
Target Center 16,893
1–1
3
November 2
@ Oklahoma City
L 85–88
Al Jefferson (24)
Al Jefferson (13)
Randy Foye (6)
Ford Center 18,163
1–2
4
November 5
San Antonio
L 125–129 (2OT)
Al Jefferson (30)
Al Jefferson (14)
Sebastian Telfair (10)
Target Center 11,112
1–3
5
November 7
@ Sacramento
L 109–121
Kevin Love (20)
Al Jefferson (9)
Sebastian Telfair (7)
ARCO Arena 10,592
1–4
6
November 8
@ Portland
L 93–97
Al Jefferson (27)
Kevin Love (7)
Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (5)
Rose Garden 20,599
1–5
7
November 11
@ Golden State
L 110–113 (OT)
Al Jefferson (25)
Al Jefferson (12)
Randy Foye (8)
Oracle Arena 17,422
1–6
8
November 15
Portland
L 83–88
Al Jefferson (26)
Al Jefferson (6)
Mike Miller (5)
Target Center 12,213
1–7
9
November 16
@ Denver
L 84–90
Al Jefferson (20)
Al Jefferson (14)
Randy Foye (6)
Pepsi Center 16,721
1–8
10
November 19
Philadelphia
W 102–96
Al Jefferson (25)
Mike Miller (10)
Sebastian Telfair (8)
Target Center 10,111
2–8
11
November 21
Boston
L 78–95
Al Jefferson (21)
Craig Smith (7)
Craig Smith (4)
Target Center 19,107
2–9
12
November 23
@ Detroit
W 106–80
Randy Foye (23)
Craig Smith (9)
Randy Foye (14)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
3–9
13
November 26
Phoenix
L 102–110
Al Jefferson (28)
Al Jefferson (17)
Mike Miller (6)
Target Center 11,708
3–10
14
November 28
@ Oklahoma City
W 105–103
Craig Smith (23)
Al Jefferson (9)
Randy Foye (7)
Ford Center 18,229
4–10
15
November 29
Denver
L 97–106
Randy Foye (25)
Al Jefferson (13)
Randy Foye (6)
Target Center 14,197
4–11 :
December: 2–14 (home: 1–6; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
December 1
@ Charlotte
L 90–100
Randy Foye (23)
Mike Miller (10)
Mike Miller (5)
Time Warner Cable Arena 9,285
4–12
17
December 3
@ Orlando
L 89–100
Al Jefferson (19)
Kevin Love (12)
Randy Foye (5)
Amway Arena 15,705
4–13
18
December 5
@ New Jersey
L 84–113
Randy Foye (20)
Al Jefferson (12)
Randy Foye (5)
Izod Center 15,364
4–14
19
December 6
L.A. Clippers
L 84–107
Al Jefferson (28)
Kevin Love (15)
Randy Foye, Sebastian Telfair (5)
Target Center 10,863
4–15
20
December 9
Utah
L 96–99
Al Jefferson (21)
Kevin Love (15)
Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes (4)
Target Center 10,745
4–16
21
December 10
@ Denver
L 105–116
Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (26)
Kevin Love (14)
Randy Foye (6)
Pepsi Center 14,007
4–17
22
December 12
San Antonio
L 86–98
Al Jefferson (29)
Al Jefferson (13)
Randy Foye (6)
Target Center 15,336
4–18
23
December 14
@ L.A. Lakers
L 86–98
Al Jefferson (20)
Al Jefferson (13)
Randy Foye (6)
Staples Center 18,997
4–19
24
December 15
@ Sacramento
L 103–118
Al Jefferson (22)
Kevin Love (15)
Kevin Ollie (5)
ARCO Arena 10,593
4–20
25
December 17
Cleveland
L 70–93
Al Jefferson (20)
Al Jefferson (11)
Randy Foye (3)
Target Center 14,899
4–21
26
December 20
Houston
L 102–109
Al Jefferson (34)
Al Jefferson (13)
Al Jefferson, Rashad McCants (4)
Target Center 12,115
4–22
27
December 23
@ San Antonio
L 93–99
Al Jefferson (28)
Randy Foye (16)
Kevin Ollie (4)
AT&T Center 17,996
4–23
28
December 26
@ New York
W 120–107
Rashad McCants (23)
Al Jefferson (15)
Sebastian Telfair (8)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
5–23
29
December 27
Orlando
L 94–118
Rashad McCants (21)
Kevin Love (10)
Rashad McCants (4)
Target Center 17,003
5–24
30
December 29
Memphis
W 108–98 (OT)
Al Jefferson (38)
Al Jefferson (16)
Randy Foye, Craig Smith (5)
Target Center 12,207
6–24
31
December 30
@ Dallas
L 100–107
Al Jefferson (21)
Al Jefferson (9)
Kevin Ollie (6)
American Airlines Center 20,264
6–25 :
January: 10–4 (home: 5–3; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 2
Golden State
W 115–108
Al Jefferson (32)
Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes (10)
Randy Foye (7)
Target Center 11,921
7–25
33
January 3
@ Chicago
W 102–92
Randy Foye (21)
Al Jefferson (14)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
United Center 20,516
8–25
34
January 6
@ Memphis
W 94–87
Randy Foye (23)
Al Jefferson (12)
Sebastian Telfair (9)
FedExForum 10,156
9–25
35
January 7
Oklahoma City
W 129–87
Randy Foye (32)
Kevin Love (15)
Randy Foye (6)
Target Center 10,272
10–25
36
January 10
Milwaukee
W 106–104
Rodney Carney (22)
Kevin Love (12)
Sebastian Telfair (11)
Target Center 15,007
11–25
37
January 13
Miami
L 96–99
Randy Foye (29)
Al Jefferson (10)
Randy Foye (8)
Target Center 10,856
11–26
38
January 16
@ Phoenix
W 105–103
Al Jefferson (22)
Kevin Love (14)
Mike Miller (5)
US Airways Center 18,422
12–26
39
January 19
@ L.A. Clippers
W 94–86
Al Jefferson, Craig Smith (20)
Al Jefferson (17)
Sebastian Telfair (9)
Staples Center 14,399
13–26
40
January 20
@ Utah
L 107–112
Al Jefferson (25)
Kevin Love (9)
Sebastian Telfair (9)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
13–27
41
January 23
New Orleans
W 116–108
Al Jefferson, Randy Foye (24)
Al Jefferson (14)
Randy Foye, Sebastian Telfair (8)
Target Center 18,224
14–27
42
January 25
Chicago
W 109–108 (OT)
Al Jefferson (39)
Kevin Love (15)
Mike Miller (7)
Target Center 16,009
15–27
43
January 26
@ Milwaukee
W 90–83
Al Jefferson (23)
Al Jefferson, Mike Miller (10)
Randy Foye (7)
Bradley Center 12,914
16–27
44
January 28
Detroit
L 89–98
Al Jefferson (24)
Kevin Love (10)
Randy Foye, Mike Miller (5)
Target Center 14,232
16–28
45
January 30
L.A. Lakers
L 119–132
Al Jefferson (34)
Al Jefferson (13)
Sebastian Telfair (7)
Target Center 19,111
16–29 :
February: 2–11 (home: 0–6; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 1
@ Boston
L 101–109
Al Jefferson (34)
Al Jefferson (11)
Randy Foye (9)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
16–30
47
February 3
@ Indiana
W 116–111
Randy Foye (19)
Al Jefferson (15)
Randy Foye (5)
Conseco Fieldhouse 11,015
17–30
48
February 4
Atlanta
L 86–94
Al Jefferson (18)
Kevin Love (14)
Mike Miller (4)
Target Center 13,745
17–31
49
February 7
@ Houston
L 90–107
Al Jefferson (36)
Al Jefferson (22)
Sebastian Telfair (9)
Toyota Center 16,815
17–32
50
February 8
@ New Orleans
L 97–101
Al Jefferson (25)
Al Jefferson (14)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
New Orleans Arena 16,046
17–33
51
February 10
Toronto
L 102–110
Randy Foye (33)
Kevin Love (12)
Mike Miller (5)
Target Center 12,722
17–34
52
February 17
@ Washington
L 103–111
Randy Foye (23)
Kevin Love (11)
Mike Miller (6)
Verizon Center 11,623
17–35
53
February 18
@ Miami
W 111–104
Sebastian Telfair (30)
Brian Cardinal (10)
Mike Miller (9)
American Airlines Arena 17,525
18–35
54
February 20
Indiana
L 105–112
Randy Foye (36)
Kevin Love (12)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
Target Center 13,777
18–36
55
February 22
L.A. Lakers
L 108–111
Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes (20)
Kevin Love (10)
Randy Foye, Kevin Ollie (6)
Target Center 19,177
18–37
56
February 24
@ Toronto
L 110–118
Randy Foye (25)
Mike Miller (12)
Mike Miller (9)
Air Canada Centre 17,457
18–38
57
February 25
Utah
L 103–120
Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love (24)
Kevin Love (15)
Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair (6)
Target Center 13,108
18–39
58
February 27
Portland
L 82–102
Craig Smith, Mike Miller (16)
Ryan Gomes (9)
Mike Miller (4)
Target Center 17,017
18–40 :
March: 3–13 (home: 3–5; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 1
Houston
L 94–105
Randy Foye (24)
Craig Smith, Mike Miller (6)
Mike Miller (5)
Target Center 13,716
18–41
60
March 3
Golden State
L 94–118
Randy Foye (19)
Kevin Love (14)
Mike Miller (4)
Target Center 14,780
18–42
61
March 6
@ L.A. Lakers
L 90–110
Ryan Gomes (20)
Kevin Love (14)
Mike Miller (9)
Staples Center 18,997
18–43
62
March 7
@ Portland
L 93–95
Ryan Gomes (28)
Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Jason Collins (7)
Sebastian Telfair (7)
Rose Garden 20,535
18–44
63
March 9
Washington
L 99–110
Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes (18)
Kevin Love (11)
Randy Foye (6)
Target Center 13,119
18–45
64
March 11
Memphis
W 104–79
Ryan Gomes (25)
Kevin Love, Mike Miller (11)
Ryan Gomes (5)
Target Center 12,443
19–45
65
March 13
New York
L 94–102
Ryan Gomes (28)
Mike Miller (11)
Mike Miller (7)
Target Center 14,311
19–46
66
March 14
Charlotte
W 108–100
Kevin Love (22)
Kevin Love, Craig Smith (7)
Sebastian Telfair (9)
Target Center 15,276
20–46
67
March 17
@ San Antonio
L 86–93
Sebastian Telfair, Kevin Love (17)
Kevin Love (19)
Sebastian Telfair (5)
AT&T Center 18,797
20–47
68
March 18
@ New Orleans
L 93–94
Kevin Love (23)
Kevin Love (11)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
New Orleans Arena 17,253
20–48
69
March 20
@ Houston
L 88–107
Craig Smith (19)
Kevin Love (12)
Mike Miller (7)
Toyota Center 17,456
20–49
70
March 22
Oklahoma City
L 90–97
Craig Smith (19)
Craig Smith, Mike Miller (10)
Bobby Brown, Mike Miller (4)
Target Center 18,561
20–50
71
March 23
@ Atlanta
L 97–109
Randy Foye (19)
Mike Miller (9)
Kevin Ollie, Sebastian Telfair (4)
Philips Arena 13,425
20–51
72
March 25
@ Philadelphia
L 88–96
Rodney Carney (21)
Ryan Gomes, Kevin Love (9)
Randy Foye, Kevin Ollie (4)
Wachovia Center 16,965
20–52
73
March 27
@ Cleveland
L 85–107
Kevin Love, Randy Foye (18)
Kevin Love (6)
Sebastian Telfair, Mike Miller (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
20–53
74
March 29
New Jersey
W 108–99
Mike Miller (22)
Kevin Love (11)
Kevin Ollie (7)
Target Center 16,539
21–53 :
April: 3–3 (home: 0–2; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 3
@ Utah
W 103–102
Ryan Gomes, Rodney Carney (25)
Mike Miller (9)
Mike Miller (8)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
22–54
77
April 5
Denver
L 87–110
Sebastian Telfair (18)
Shelden Williams (12)
Mike Miller (6)
Target Center 16,839
22–55
78
April 7
@ L.A. Clippers
W 87–77
Ryan Gomes (24)
Kevin Love (15)
Sebastian Telfair, Mike Miller (6)
Staples Center 16,757
23–55
79
April 8
@ Golden State
W 105–97
Sebastian Telfair (21)
Kevin Love (12)
Mike Miller (6)
Oracle Arena 18,808
24–55
80
April 11
Phoenix
L 97–110
Sebastian Telfair (21)
Mike Miller (9)
Mike Miller (9)
Target Center 18,478
24–56
81
April 13
@ Dallas
L 94–96
Craig Smith (24)
Kevin Love (11)
Sebastian Telfair (12)
American Airlines Center 19,900
24–57
82
April 15
Sacramento
L 90–97
Craig Smith (18)
Kevin Love (10)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
Target Center 17,333
24–58 :
2015–16 season schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ryan Gomes | SF | 82 | 76 | 2,614 | 392 | 135 | 63 | 22 | 1,092 | 31.9 | 4.8 | 1.6 | .8 | .3 | 13.3 |
| Kevin Love | C | 81 | 37 | 2,048 | 734 | 84 | 35 | 50 | 899 | 25.3 | 9.1 | 1.0 | .4 | .6 | 11.1 |
| Sebastian Telfair | PG | 75 | 43 | 2,095 | 127 | 343 | 73 | 12 | 738 | 27.9 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .2 | 9.8 |
| Craig Smith | PF | 74 | 31 | 1,460 | 284 | 79 | 31 | 19 | 746 | 19.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .4 | .3 | 10.1 |
| Mike Miller | SF | 73 | 47 | 2,356 | 483 | 326 | 30 | 31 | 722 | 32.3 | 6.6 | 4.5 | .4 | .4 | 9.9 |
| Randy Foye | SG | 70 | 61 | 2,494 | 214 | 303 | 72 | 26 | 1,139 | 35.6 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .4 | 16.3 |
| Rodney Carney | SG | 67 | 6 | 1,199 | 126 | 26 | 45 | 29 | 481 | 17.9 | 1.9 | .4 | .7 | .4 | 7.2 |
| Brian Cardinal | PF | 64 | 4 | 909 | 142 | 76 | 37 | 13 | 190 | 14.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | 3.0 |
| Al Jefferson | C | 50 | 50 | 1,836 | 548 | 79 | 39 | 83 | 1,156 | 36.7 | 11.0 | 1.6 | .8 | 1.7 | 23.1 |
| Kevin Ollie | PG | 50 | 21 | 850 | 75 | 117 | 19 | 4 | 202 | 17.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | .4 | .1 | 4.0 |
| Rashad McCants$^†$ | SG | 34 | 2 | 636 | 63 | 32 | 27 | 6 | 308 | 18.7 | 1.9 | .9 | .8 | .2 | 9.1 |
| Jason Collins | C | 31 | 22 | 422 | 70 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 57 | 13.6 | 2.3 | .4 | .3 | .4 | 1.8 |
| Bobby Brown$^†$ | PG | 21 | 1 | 256 | 16 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 116 | 12.2 | .8 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 5.5 |
| Mark Madsen | C | 19 | 1 | 116 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6.1 | .9 | .2 | .1 | .1 | .3 |
| Corey Brewer | SF | 15 | 8 | 307 | 49 | 25 | 15 | 3 | 93 | 20.5 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .2 | 6.2 |
| Shelden Williams$^†$ | PF | 15 | 0 | 207 | 75 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 74 | 13.8 | 5.0 | .3 | .7 | .5 | 4.9 |
| Calvin Booth$^†$ | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.