http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16923400.htm Playoffs? Who wants to make the playoffs? Both coaches expect it, but at this rate they won't get it. Minnesota's Randy Wittman and Golden State's Don Nelson said they think the Western Conference playoff race will go down to the final days of the season. Not if the Wolves and Warriors keep playing like this. They appear to be two teams headed in opposite directions. Minnesota opened a five-game road trip Friday night with a resounding 106-86 loss to the Warriors at Oracle Arena, its ninth consecutive defeat on the road and 13th of 14. The Wolves hurt themselves by committing 25 turnovers, tying their season high, and shooting just 35.6 percent against a Golden State team that has won five of six games. It was a terrible start to the trip for a team that desperately needs momentum to seize an opportunity. Wittman's club began the day just a half-game behind the Warriors for the eighth and final playoff spot. Before the game, Wittman said a tight playoff race should keep his players focused. "If we're in one day and out the next, and you're fighting up and down, I don't know what else can get your focus," Wittman said. "It's not like we're in securely in at the fourth seed or the third seed. We're fighting for our lives here." They didn't play like it. They had 22 turnovers through three quarters, with Kevin Garnett and Mark Blount combining for 11. The Wolves also had 25 turnovers Dec. 3 at Philadelphia. "We don't have a chance to win games with 25 turnovers,'' Wittman said. "And then you shoot 36 percent on top of it, and that's it in my estimation.'' Wittman said he planned to emphasize to his players that this was an important game, as if they needed a reminder. They had a chance to win the season series and playoff tiebreaker against Golden State with a win by claiming two of three games. The teams finish the season series April 15 in California. "At the end of the day, that's going to be a pretty important part, being a half game difference between the two of us," Wittman said before the game. "Obviously this could go all the way down between the two of us. Winning this game is huge." The Wolves already hold the tiebreaker against the Los Angeles Clippers by winning that season series 2-1. That head-to-head edge is important in a tight race, just in case the teams finish with identical records. Reserve guard Monta Ellis played a big role for Golden State, with 24 points and six assists off the bench, while Andris Biedrins had nine points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors, who continued their resurgence with a healthy Baron Davis in the lineup. Davis, who has been bothered throughout the season by a knee injury, had 15 points and four assists in 23 minutes before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Since his return to the lineup on March 12 following a 13-game absence, the Warriors are 5-1. The lone loss came to Portland last Sunday when Davis did not play because of coach's decision. Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost to the Warriors for only the fourth time in the teams' past 11 meetings. At 31-36, Golden State remains percentage points ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers (30-35) for the eighth playoff spot in the West. The Warriors fought injuries most of the season but are healthy now and making a strong push. They are 5-0 with the starting lineup of Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Jason Richardson, Davis and Biedrins. That includes a 117-100 home victory Monday night against the NBA-leading Dallas Mavericks. "They present matchup problems with their perimeter players,'' Wittman said. "They're big when they go Davis, Richardson and Jackson one, two, three.'' The Wolves started slowly, falling behind 13-3 to start the game. They shot 27.8 percent and committed seven turnovers and were fortunate to trail just 25-21 at the end of the first quarter. But Wolves led 29-28 in the second quarter. They made five of their first seven field goals in the second quarter. On defense, though, they couldn't contain the Warriors, who pushed the tempo of the game. That pace favored the Warriors, who love to play high-speed basketball. Nine Minnesota turnovers in the second contributed to Golden State's success. Warrior Mickael Pietrus scored 13 points in the second quarter as the Warriors went into halftime leading 56-43. Then in the third quarter, trailing by 20 points, the frustrated Wolves picked up two technical fouls. One was called against assistant coach Rex Kalamian. Another was called soon thereafter against Kevin Garnett as part of a double technical with Golden State's Baron Davis. It was Garnett's 11th technical foul of the season. (Players receive an automatic one-game suspension when they reach 16 technicals in the regular season.) "You have to beat this team with ball movement and pace,'' Garnett said. "We didn't have that tonight.'' --

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