T’Wolves coach Sam Mitchell rips team after lopsided loss to Clippers

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) goes up for a shot against Los Angeles Clippers forward Jeff Green (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Wednesday, March 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Andrew Wiggins of the Timberwolves goes up for a shot while being guard by the Clippers’ Jeff Green during Wednesday’s game at Minnesota/AP photo by Ann Heisenfelt

You might say Minnesota Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell was just a bit upset after his team was routed 99-79 by the Clippers on Wednesday night in Minnesota. Afterward, Mitchell did not pull any punches about the play of his team.

“Worst game,” Mithcell said to reporters. “They didn’t set screens, they didn’t pass the ball. I didn’t even recognize us at the start of the game. They still have to learn how to play basketball. They still have to grow up. They played a team that’s a real playoff team tonight. You saw what happened, so we’re not ready yet.”

He was finished.

“I wish they would stop reading the newspapers, stop talking to their friends because we’re not good enough to show up and play,” Mitchell said of his talented, yet young team that is now just 25-50. ” That was the worst game we played all year.”

The Clippers (47-27) held the T’Wolves to 34.5 percent shooting. Minnesota also had 16 turnovers to just eight for the Clippers, and the T’Wolves shot just 64.7 percent (11 of 17) from the free-throw line. Their leading scorer on the season, Andrew Wiggins, scored just seven points on 3 of 9 shooting. Wiggins, who averages 20.7 points, also had six turnovers. Guard Zach LaVine started, played a little more than 22 minutes and did not score, missing all six of his field-gal attempts.

Minnesota trailed by 33 points (92-59) with 6:45 left to play.

Well, Mitchell was hot, to be sure. His rookie center, Karl-Anthony Towns, wasn’t too pleased, either.

“I think it is (the worst game) because we came off a great win and we had the momentum on our side and we just came in and came out flat,” Towns said.

Minnesota was coming off a 121-116 victory over the hapless Phoenix Suns.