The shift lasted less than two minutes, but the way it ended was a concerning sign for a Timberwolves team that can’t pull itself out of a nasty tailspin.



Gorgui Dieng was inserted with 7:41 to play in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves down 11 points to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans. A mere 117 seconds later, the deficit was 15 points and Dieng had to be restrained by Josh Okogie on the sideline as he expressed his frustration with being pulled from the game.



He took a seat on the bench just outside the huddle as coach Ryan Saunders scribbled on his whiteboard in front of the five players who were about to re-enter the game. Dieng slammed a water bottle on the court and it spilled all over the place. In an arena that has been emptier than any other in the league over the course of the season, the expression drew plenty of attention.



Another home game was slipping away, this one to a team that had lost 13 straight, was playing on the second night...