# 2012–13 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2012–13 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 24th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team missed the playoffs for the 9th straight season, but won at least 30 games for the first time since Kevin Garnett was traded.

## Key dates

* June 28, 2012: The 2012 NBA draft took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

## Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 58 | Robbie Hummel | PF | United States | Purdue (Sr.) |

## Pre-season

2012 pre-season game log :
Pre-season: 5–2 (home: 4–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 10
Indiana
W 84–70
Budinger & Peković (14)
Kevin Love (8)
Barea & Shved (4)
Fargodome 9,163
1–0
2
October 12
@ Indiana
L 91–96
Derrick Williams (25)
Kevin Love (9)
Will Conroy (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 10,794
1–1
3
October 13
Chicago
W 82–75
Nikola Peković (16)
Nikola Peković (17)
Brandon Roy (4)
Target Center 12,251
2–1
4
October 16
Maccabi Haifa
W 114–81
Kevin Love (24)
Nikola Peković (9)
José Juan Barea (7)
Target Center 11,192
3–1
5
October 19
@ Chicago
L 81–92
Cunningham, Kirilenko (12)
Greg Stiemsma (7)
Roy, Amundson & Conroy (3)
United Center 21,418
3–2
6
October 24
Detroit
W 95–76
Chase Budinger (21)
Dante Cunningham (14)
José Juan Barea (7)
MTS Centre 12,163
4–2
7
October 26
@ Milwaukee
W 100–76
Chase Budinger (20)
Andrei Kirilenko (10)
Alexey Shved (8)
Resch Center 4,165
5–2 :
2012–13 season schedule :

## Regular season
### Game log

2012–13 game log Total: 31–51 (Home: 20–21; Road: 11–30) :
November: 7–8 (home: 4–3; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1November 2Sacramento
W 92–80
José Juan Barea (21)
Dante Cunningham (9)
Brandon Roy (6)
Target Center 19,356
1–0
2November 4@ Toronto
L 86–105
Andrei Kirilenko (17)
Derrick Williams (8)
Luke Ridnour (5)
Air Canada Centre 16,754
1-1
3November 5@ Brooklyn
W 107–96
Nikola Peković (21)
Dante Cunningham (11)
Brandon Roy (7)
Barclays Center 14,017
2–1
4November 7Orlando
W 90–75
Luke Ridnour (19)
Derrick Williams (6)
Brandon Roy (9)
Target Center 17,121
3–1
5November 9Indiana
W 96–94
Chase Budinger (18)
Nikola Peković (8)
Alexey Shved (7)
Target Center 18,222
4–1
6November 10@ Chicago
L 80–87
Nikola Peković (18)
Andrei Kirilenko (12)
Andrei Kirilenko (7)
United Center 21,974
4–2
7November 12@ Dallas
W 90–82
Nikola Peković (20)
Andrei Kirilenko (11)
Luke Ridnour (7)
American Airlines Center 19,322
5–2
8November 14Charlotte
L 87–89
Andrei Kirilenko (26)
Andrei Kirilenko (12)
Luke Ridnour (10)
Target Center 13,272
5–3
9November 16Golden State
L 98–106
Derrick Williams (23)
Derrick Williams (7)
Alexey Shved (7)
Target Center 16,013
5–4
10November 21Denver
L 94–101
Kevin Love (34)
Kevin Love (14)
Luke Ridnour (6)
Target Center 16,879
5-5
11November 23@ Portland
L 95–103
Kevin Love (24)
Kevin Love (13)
Andrei Kirilenko (5)
Rose Garden 20,555
5–6
12November 24@ Golden State
L 85–96
Nikola Peković (17)
Kevin Love (15)
José Juan Barea (10)
Oracle Arena 19,084
5–7
13November 27@ Sacramento
W 97–89
Kevin Love (23)
Kevin Love (24)
José Juan Barea (6)
Power Balance Pavilion 10,741
6–7
14November 28@ L. A. Clippers
L 95–101
Kevin Love (19)
Kevin Love (12)
Luke Ridnour (7)
Staples Center 19,060
6–8
15November 30Milwaukee
W 95–85
Ridnour & Shved (16)
Nikola Peković (16)
Barea & Shved (5)
Target Center 16,418
7–8 :
December
: 7–5 (home: 5–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16December 4@ Philadelphia
W 105–88
Alexey Shved (17)
Howard & Love (10)
José Juan Barea (10)
Wells Fargo Center 13,986
8-8
17December 5@ Boston
L 94–104
Kevin Love (19)
Kevin Love (13)
Luke Ridnour (5)
TD Garden 18,624
8–9
18December 7Cleveland
W 91–73
Kevin Love (36)
Kevin Love (13)
Luke Ridnour (7)
Target Center 16,623
9-9
19December 12Denver
W 108–105
Nikola Peković (22)
Kevin Love (14)
José Juan Barea (8)
Target Center 16,444
10–9
20December 14@ New Orleans
W 113–102
Nikola Peković (31)
Andrei Kirilenko (11)
Luke Ridnour (10)
New Orleans Arena 14,671
11–9
21December 15Dallas
W 114–106
Nikola Peković (21)
Andrei Kirilenko (10)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Target Center 18,173
12–9
22December 17@ Orlando
L 93–102
Kevin Love (23)
Kevin Love (15)
Barea & Kirilenko (6)
Amway Center 16,992
12–10
23December 18@ Miami
L 92–103
Andrei Kirilenko (22)
Kevin Love (18)
Alexey Shved (8)
American Airlines Arena 19,862
12–11
24December 20Oklahoma City
W 99–93
Kevin Love (28)
Kevin Love (11)
Alexey Shved (12)
Target Center 17,114
13–11
25December 23@ New York
L 91–94
Nikola Peković (21)
Nikola Peković (17)
Luke Ridnour (5)
Madison Square Garden 19,033
13–12
26December 26Houston
L 84–87
José Juan Barea (18)
Kevin Love (12)
Luke Ridnour (4)
Target Center 20,340
13-13
27December 29Phoenix
W 111–107
Nikola Peković (28)
Kevin Love (18)
Alexey Shved (10)
Target Center 19,356
14–13 :
January
: 3–12 (home: 2–4; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
28January 2@ Utah
L 84–106
Love & Shved (13)
Kevin Love (10)
José Juan Barea (4)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,120
14-14
29January 3@ Denver
W 101–97
Barea & Shved (17)
Kevin Love (17)
Barea & Shved (5)
Pepsi Center 16,921
15–14
30January 5Portland
L 97–102
Nikola Peković (21)
Nikola Peković (15)
Barea & Shved (7)
Target Center 16,220
15-15
31January 8Atlanta
W 108–103
Nikola Peković (25)
Nikola Peković (18)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 15,988
16–15
32January 9@ Oklahoma City
L 84–106
Alexey Shved (18)
Derrick Williams (11)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
16-16
33January 11@ New Orleans
L 92–104
Luke Ridnour (20)
Dante Cunningham (9)
Alexey Shved (7)
New Orleans Arena 13,538
16–17
34January 13@ San Antonio
L 88–106
José Juan Barea (4)
Andrei Kirilenko (22)
Barea & Ridnour (6)
AT&T Center 18,144
16–18
35January 14@ Dallas
L 98–113
José Juan Barea (21)
Nikola Peković (12)
Ricky Rubio (6)
American Airlines Center 19,486
16–19
36January 17L. A. Clippers
L 77–90
Luke Ridnour (21)
Nikola Peković (9)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 16,198
16–20
37January 19Houston
W 92–79
Andrei Kirilenko (21)
Andrei Kirilenko (11)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 16,799
17–20
38January 21@ Atlanta
L 96–104
Derrick Williams (17)
Andrei Kirilenko (6)
José Juan Barea (7)
Philips Arena 13,808
17–21
39January 23Brooklyn
L 83–91
Andrei Kirilenko (15)
Johnson, Kirilenko & Williams (6)
José Juan Barea (8)
Target Center 15,785
17–22
40January 25@ Washington
L 101–114
Derrick Williams (18)
Derrick Williams (11)
Rubio & Stiemsma (6)
Verizon Center 14,095
17–23
41January 26@ Charlotte
L 101–102
Luke Ridnour (22)
Ridnour & Stiemsma (7)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Time Warner Cable Arena 15,397
17–24
42January 30L. A. Clippers
L 90–96
Nikola Peković (17)
Nikola Peković (12)
Barea, Kirilenko, & Rubio (4)
Target Center 15,312
17–25 :
February
: 3–10 (home: 2–6; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
43February 1L. A. Lakers
L 100–111
Alexey Shved (18)
Pekovic & Williams (9)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 18,547
17–26
44February 2New Orleans
W 115–86
Dante Cunningham (18)
Nikola Peković (7)
Alexey Shved (8)
Target Center 16,289
18–26
45February 4Portland
L 98–100
Dante Cunningham (23)
Nikola Peković (11)
Ricky Rubio (14)
Target Center 13,446
18–27
46February 6San Antonio
L 94–104
Nikola Peković (21)
Derrick Williams (12)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 15,224
18–28
47February 8New York
L 94–100
Luke Ridnour (20)
Nikola Peković (11)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 16,502
18–29
48February 10@ Memphis
L 88–105
Ridnour & Rubio (17)
Pekovic & Williams (6)
Alexey Shved (9)
FedExForum 16,023
18–30
49February 11@ Cleveland
W 100–92
Luke Ridnour (21)
Nikola Peković (10)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 11,556
19–30
50February 13Utah
L 93–97
Derrick Williams (24)
Derrick Williams (16)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 13,117
19–31
All-Star Break
51February 20Philadelphia
W 94–87
Nikola Peković (27)
Nikola Peković (18)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 14,439
20–31
52February 22@ Oklahoma City
L 111–127
Alexey Shved (17)
Greg Stiemsma (6)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
20–32
53February 24Golden State
L 99–100
Derrick Williams (23)
Derrick Williams (12)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 18,033
20–33
54February 26@ Phoenix
L 83–84 (OT)
Derrick Williams (21)
Derrick Williams (11)
Ricky Rubio (10)
US Airways Center 14,973
20–34
55February 28@ L. A. Lakers
L 94–116
José Juan Barea (23)
Derrick Williams (8)
Ricky Rubio (13)
Staples Center 18,997
20–35 :
March
: 6–11 (home: 4–5; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
56March 2@ Portland
L 94–109
Derrick Williams (23)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Rose Garden 20,390
20–36
57March 4Miami
L 81–97
Derrick Williams (25)
Dante Cunningham (11)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 18,391
20–37
58March 6Washington
W 87–82
Derrick Williams (16)
Derrick Williams (8)
Ricky Rubio (11)
Target Center 13,233
21–37
59March 9@ Denver
L 88–111
Mickaël Gelabale (19)
Chris Johnson (8)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Pepsi Center 18,823
21–38
60March 10Dallas
L 77–100
Derrick Williams (18)
Derrick Williams (9)
Luke Ridnour (5)
Target Center 15,209
21–39
61March 12San Antonio
W 107–83
Ricky Rubio (21)
Ricky Rubio (13)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Target Center 14,219
22–39
62March 13@ Indiana
L 91–107
Ricky Rubio (21)
Greg Stiemsma (9)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,187
22–40
63March 15@ Houston
L 100–108
Derrick Williams (19)
Mickaël Gelabale (7)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Toyota Center 18,046
22–41
64March 17New Orleans
W 97–95
Derrick Williams (28)
Derrick Williams (7)
Luke Ridnour (6)
Target Center 14,246
23–41
65March 18@ Memphis
L 77–92
Alexey Shved (12)
Mickaël Gelabale (7)
Luke Ridnour (3)
FedExForum 16,378
23–42
66March 21@ Sacramento
L 98–101
Nikola Peković (18)
Nikola Peković (12)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Power Balance Pavilion 12,176
23–43
67March 22@ Phoenix
W 117–86
Andrei Kirilenko (20)
Greg Stiemsma (10)
Ricky Rubio (8)
US Airways Center 16,155
24–43
68March 24Chicago
L 97–104
Derrick Williams (28)
Nikola Peković (8)
Ricky Rubio (8)
Target Center 17,330
24–44
69March 26@ Detroit
W 105–82
José Juan Barea (21)
Nikola Peković (11)
Ricky Rubio (9)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 16,877
25–44
70March 27L. A. Lakers
L 117–120
Nikola Peković (19)
Nikola Peković (16)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 18,029
25–45
71March 29Oklahoma City
W 101–93
Nikola Peković (22)
Nikola Peković (15)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Target Center 18,121
26–45
72March 30Memphis
L 86–99
Ricky Rubio (23)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Ricky Rubio (9)
Target Center 13,680
26–46 :
April
: 5–5 (home: 3–2; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
73April 1Boston
W 110–100
Nikola Peković (29)
Andrei Kirilenko (9)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 14,546
27–46
74April 3@ Milwaukee
W 107–98
Nikola Peković (27)
Nikola Peković (8)
Ricky Rubio (12)
BMO Harris Bradley Center 15,386
28–46
75April 5Toronto
L 93–95
Nikola Peković (24)
Nikola Peković (8)
Ricky Rubio (12)
Target Center 16,661
28–47
76April 6Detroit
W 107–101
Nikola Peković (20)
Nikola Peković (13)
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center 15,311
29–47
77April 9@ Golden State
L 89–105
Chase Budinger (17)
Greg Stiemsma (9)
Alexey Shved (9)
Oracle Arena 19,596
29–48
78April 10@ L. A. Clippers
L 95–111
Nikola Peković (20)
Derrick Williams (10)
Ricky Rubio (7)
Staples Center 19,060
29–49
79April 12@ Utah
L 100–107
José Juan Barea (23)
Greg Stiemsma (7)
Alexey Shved (5)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,609
29–50
80April 13Phoenix
W 105–93
Ricky Rubio (24)
Dante Cunningham (8)
Ricky Rubio (10)
Target Center 16,701
30–50
81April 15Utah
L 80–96
Derrick Williams (18)
Greg Stiemsma (8)
José Juan Barea (5)
Target Center 17,009
30–51
82April 17@ San Antonio
W 108–95
Derrick Williams (21)
Greg Stiemsma (9)
Luke Ridnour (6)
AT&T Center 18,581
31–51 :
2012–13 season schedule :

### Standings

| Northwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| c-Oklahoma City Thunder | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 34–7 | 26–15 | 10–6 | 82 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 57 | 25 | .695 | 3 | 38–3 | 19–22 | 11–5 | 82 |
| Utah Jazz | 43 | 39 | .524 | 17 | 30–11 | 13–28 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 27 | 22–19 | 11–30 | 6–10 | 82 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 31 | 51 | .378 | 29 | 20–21 | 11–30 | 4–12 | 82 |
Western Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | c-Oklahoma City Thunder * | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs * | 58 | 24 | .707 | 2.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x-Denver Nuggets * | 57 | 25 | .695 | 3.0 | 82 |
| 4 | y-Los Angeles Clippers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x-Memphis Grizzlies | 56 | 26 | .683 | 4.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x-Golden State Warriors | 47 | 35 | .573 | 13.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Utah Jazz | 43 | 39 | .524 | 17.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 19.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Portland Trail Blazers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 27.0 | 82 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 31 | 51 | .378 | 29.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Sacramento Kings | 28 | 54 | .341 | 32.0 | 82 |
| 14 | New Orleans Hornets | 27 | 55 | .329 | 33.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Phoenix Suns | 25 | 57 | .305 | 35.0 | 82 |

## Injuries

Kevin Love suffered a fracture in his right hand during a team workout midway through the pre-season. He was expected to be sidelined between six and eight weeks.

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Luke Ridnour | SG | 82 | 82 | 2,474 | 206 | 311 | 82 | 15 | 939 | 30.2 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .2 | 11.5 |
| Dante Cunningham | PF | 80 | 9 | 2,010 | 408 | 67 | 84 | 38 | 695 | 25.1 | 5.1 | .8 | 1.1 | .5 | 8.7 |
| Derrick Williams | PF | 78 | 56 | 1,916 | 430 | 46 | 44 | 37 | 933 | 24.6 | 5.5 | .6 | .6 | .5 | 12.0 |
| Alexey Shved | SG | 77 | 16 | 1,840 | 175 | 286 | 54 | 27 | 665 | 23.9 | 2.3 | 3.7 | .7 | .4 | 8.6 |
| Greg Stiemsma | C | 76 | 19 | 1,209 | 261 | 30 | 44 | 90 | 307 | 15.9 | 3.4 | .4 | .6 | 1.2 | 4.0 |
| J. J. Barea | PG | 74 | 2 | 1,713 | 207 | 294 | 32 | 0 | 834 | 23.1 | 2.8 | 4.0 | .4 | .0 | 11.3 |
| Andrei Kirilenko | SF | 64 | 64 | 2,034 | 362 | 177 | 96 | 62 | 791 | 31.8 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 12.4 |
| Nikola Peković | C | 62 | 62 | 1,959 | 545 | 53 | 43 | 50 | 1,011 | 31.6 | 8.8 | .9 | .7 | .8 | 16.3 |
| Ricky Rubio | PG | 57 | 47 | 1,691 | 229 | 418 | 137 | 5 | 608 | 29.7 | 4.0 | 7.3 | 2.4 | .1 | 10.7 |
| Mickaël Gelabale | SF | 36 | 13 | 644 | 99 | 26 | 16 | 4 | 181 | 17.9 | 2.8 | .7 | .4 | .1 | 5.0 |
| Chris Johnson | C | 30 | 0 | 284 | 60 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 117 | 9.5 | 2.0 | .3 | .2 | .9 | 3.9 |
| Chase Budinger | SF | 23 | 1 | 508 | 71 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 216 | 22.1 | 3.1 | 1.1 | .6 | .3 | 9.4 |
| Lou Amundson$^†$ | PF | 20 | 0 | 161 | 47 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 32 | 8.1 | 2.4 | .2 | .4 | .3 | 1.6 |
| Kevin Love | PF | 18 | 18 | 618 | 252 | 42 | 13 | 9 | 330 | 34.3 | 14.0 | 2.3 | .7 | .5 | 18.3 |
| Malcolm Lee | SG | 16 | 12 | 289 | 39 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 78 | 18.1 | 2.4 | 1.3 | .8 | .4 | 4.9 |
| Josh Howard | SF | 11 | 4 | 207 | 36 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 74 | 18.8 | 3.3 | .4 | .9 | .3 | 6.7 |
| Brandon Roy | SG | 5 | 5 | 122 | 14 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 24.4 | 2.8 | 4.6 | .6 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Lazar Hayward | SF | 4 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 7.8 | 1.0 | .8 | .5 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Will Conroy | PG | 4 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

## Transactions
### Overview

| Players Added Via trade Chase Budinger Dante Cunningham Via free agency Louis Amundson Will Conroy Andrei Kirilenko Brandon Roy Alexey Shved Greg Stiemsma | Players Lost Via trade Wayne Ellington Wesley Johnson Brad Miller Via free agency Michael Beasley Anthony Randolph Anthony Tolliver Waived Darko Miličić Martell Webster |

### Trades

| June 26, 2012 | To Minnesota TimberwolvesChase Budinger Draft rights to Lior Eliyahu | To Houston RocketsThe 18th overall pick in 2012 |
| July 13, 2012 | To Minnesota Timberwolves2016 second round pick | To New Orleans HornetsBrad Miller 2013 second round pick 2016 second round pick Cash considerations |
| July 24, 2012 | To Minnesota TimberwolvesDante Cunningham | To Memphis GrizzliesWayne Ellington |
| July 27, 2012 (3-team trade) | To Minnesota Timberwolves2013 second round pick (from New Orleans) 2014 second round pick (from Phoenix) 2017 second round pick (from New Orleans) | To Phoenix SunsWesley Johnson Future first round pick |

### Free agents

Additions :
| Player | Date signed | Former team |
| Alexey Shved | July 25 | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| Andrei Kirilenko | July 27 | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| Brandon Roy | July 31 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Greg Stiemsma | August 2 | Boston Celtics |
| Louis Amundson | September 24 | Indiana Pacers |
| Will Conroy | September 28 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) |
Subtractions :
| Player | Date left | New team |
| Michael Beasley | July 20 | Phoenix Suns |
| Anthony Randolph | July 20 | Denver Nuggets |
| Martell Webster | August 29 | Washington Wizards |
| Anthony Tolliver | September 27 | Atlanta Hawks |