Veteran-in-waiting is a common thread in team's 2 victories

The Timberwolves acquired Damien Wilkins from Oklahoma City last summer in another bit of salary-cap bookkeeping that saved more than $3 million.

In return, they received more than Wilkins' expiring $3.3 million salary slot.

They also obtained a veteran's calming voice and an irresistible shiny, bald head.

Consider this about a team that has won twice and lost 15 times this season: Wilkins scored from nearly the seat of his pants at the final buzzer in their season-opening comeback victory over New Jersey. On Sunday, he started for the first time in nearly a month and was instrumental in an inexplicable victory at Denver that ended a 15-game losing streak.

Hey, the Wolves are 2-0 when Wilkins has a double-double game in points and rebounds.

His shiny head is also the good-luck charm Al Jefferson and Jonny Flynn gave a good rubbing to after Sunday's victory.

"He has been terrific," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said. "I applauded him in front of the group before we started practice as proof of an individual who stays ready, who works hard, who keeps himself in condition. He has been up and down this year -- playing well, not playing so well; in the starting lineup, out of the starting lineup -- but when he got the opportunity again, he delivered.

"That's what professionals do: Whenever they're called upon, they're ready to deliver."

It's a lesson Wilkins, 29, says he learned from veterans Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Antonio Daniels when he was a young player in Seattle.

"I really learned a lot from those guys," he said. "Ray always taught me patience, taught me to never take a day off and remember that hard work is always going to overcome anything, no matter what you're going through.

"This isn't my first rodeo. I've been in this situation a lot: In the rotation, out of the rotation. It has been one of those walls that I've always had to climb, which I don't mind because if it was easy, everybody would be doing it."

He stays consistent with the same work routine -- "First one in, last one to leave," Flynn said -- even when his playing time is anything but consistent. His 33 minutes played Sunday in Denver were a season high. He has played 10 or fewer minutes in nine of the team's 16 games.

"I have no idea why I wasn't playing, and I had no idea when I was going to play," Wilkins said. "I had a conversation with Coach and he told me it was nothing personal, nothing I did. He just wanted me to stay patient. Trust me, I wouldn't want his job. I wouldn't want no coach's job because it's hard to manage egos and playing time.

"I understand it. I understand it more than I did three or four years ago."

Allen approached him one day during Wilkins' second NBA season four years ago and offered advice that Wilkins has since repeated to Flynn.

"He said, 'There's frustration in your body language about not playing, let's straighten that out,'" Wilkins said. "Ever since that day, I never let [not playing] affect me, or I would never let anyone see that if affected me. I try to teach the same thing to Jonny.

"A couple of times I had to pull Jonny aside and say, 'Straighten up your body language. You're OK, we're OK.' All young guys need someone to say something to them sometimes."

When Wilkins speaks, Flynn listens. "Even when he wasn't getting minutes, he was working his tail off," Flynn said. "He has been in the league. He knows things. When you look at him, you take heed with every word he says."

Kevin Love, out all season because of that fractured left hand, participated in some contact portions of practice Monday and Tuesday and will be re-evaluated by doctors by Thursday to determine if his season debut is just days away. Rambis said conditioning will be Love's biggest issue.