Players thank outgoing coach after season-ending blowout

Karl-Anthony Towns had done just about everything Wednesday night. Three-pointers, jams, hooks. Even a crazy end-to-end, one-man, not-so-fast break.

But there was one more thing to do.

With the Timberwolves up by 39 midway through the fourth quarter of the final game of the season, Towns — the presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year — was subbed out as the fans roared. Towns walked over to Sam Mitchell and gave him a hug.

"I wanted to thank him for everything he's done this year," Towns said. "Just seeing me grow. Helping me grow."

Knowing it would likely be their last opportunity, the Timberwolves walked onto the Target Center floor and gave Mitchell a record-setting win. Playing with a joy rarely seen at home this season, the Wolves set a franchise record for points in a 144-109 victory over the very banged-up New Orleans Hornets.

It was fan appreciation night, the regular-season finale and likely the last time Mitchell, elevated to interim coach after Flip Saunders was lost to cancer before the season began, will roam the sidelines in front of the Wolves bench.

The Wolves announced after the game that Mitchell would not be retained. They have begun the process of identifying and hiring a new coach and head of basketball operations by looking outside the organization.

The players found out shortly before the game began. Then they watched a video Mitchell and the coaching staff put together summarizing what Saunders had meant to the team and how the roller coaster of a season had gone.

Then, armed with emotion, the Wolves went out and set or tied season highs in three-pointers (13), assists (41), field goals made (56) and steals (14). Those 41 assists were the most in the league this season.

Afterward, to a man, the players said it was a great way to end the season.

But it was not a goodbye for their coach. More like a thank you.

"That's the owner's decision," said Andrew Wiggins, who scored 21 points. "But me, personally, I love all the coaches. I wish they would come back next season. Because we all have a relationship together, we're all growing together."

The Wolves finished 29-53, 13 wins better than last season. They ended the season winning three of four, a trend they hope will carry into next fall.

However, the feeling is a lot of things will have changed by then.

"It's our job is to come in here and play hard, whoever is in there," Ricky Rubio said. "We had a tough season. Everything happened so quick in the offseason. So unexpected. But life goes on, we had to fight through it."

So it was a good way to end, with four 20-point scorers, with a runaway victory over the Pelicans.

Afterward, Mitchell talked about how proud he was, how much it had improved, how the players had bought into what he and his staff were selling. He said he was sure Saunders was looking down, smiling.

The players? They all talked about better things to come. More wins, continued growth, ultimately a return to the playoffs. All the while knowing a lot of change is coming to the team this summer.

"Coach helped us with our development," said Shabazz Muhammad, who scored 28 points. "We have no control what happens with the coaching situation. But, like I said, I really appreciated how coach treated us on an off the court, and how genuine he was and how he made us better.''