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Jerry Zgoda missed the entire Kevin Garnett era, but he's back covering the Timberwolves after working the beat for their first four seasons two decades ago. In between, he covered a bit of everything: Gopher men's and women's basketball and NCAA athletics, golf, outdoor recreation, sports media and a little Vikings and Twins.
Say what? Wolves rally, win in Denver 101-97 without Love
Posted by: Jerry Zgoda under Wolves injury report, Wolves postgame, Wolves news Updated: January 4, 2013 - 2:45 AM
OK, so let the great debate continue:
Are the Timberwolves better without their best player, Kevin Love?
Denver coach George Karl contributed to the discussion after he watched Love leave Thursday's game in the third quarter clutching that right shooting hand again and then saw the Wolves quickly wipe away a 10-point deficit and beat his team at home for only their second loss in 12 games there this season.
The only other team that has beat the Nuggets at Pepsi Center?
Not the L.A. Clippers, who had their 17-game win streak end there on Tuesday.
Yes, that's right: The defending champs, Miami, is the only other team to win there this season, on Nov. 15.
That was an eight-game home winning streak in between losses.
One night after that stinker in Utah, the Wolves won while Love went to the locker room to discover he appeared to sprain the third metacarpal -- one of two bones he broke in October -- on that shooting hand and then came to watch some of the fourth quarter from the bench.
They did so with Dante Cunningham taking over for Love at power forward in a final quarter when Derrick Williams and J.J. Barea also stepped forth.
And guess what?
WIthout Love, the Wolves defense, particularly in transition, improved noticeably and Barea took over offensively with a strategy that often appeared to be: Give him the ball and get the heck out of the way.
No telling how long this latest setback with that hand will last.
Is it time to rest the hand for some time and get it completely healthy without him continually banging it?
Love wasn't talking after the game. He hid out in the training room, reading something and not getting treatment, well after the game and didn't want to talk to reporters.
Karl did.
"I think Minnesota at times plays better without Love," Karl said afterward. "They're kind of a machine-like offense. They give guys different opportunities. But they're pretty good."
OK, so short term, with Love struggling so, they're better.
Anybody here willing to argue long term they're better without him.
That's just plain silliness, but I know you're out there, so pipe up...
Wolves at Denver tonight: What will it be?
Posted by: Jerry Zgoda under Wolves players, Wolves pre-game Updated: January 3, 2013 - 7:37 PMRick Adelman calls tonight's game at Denver a test of his team's resolve, just 24 hours after it played probably its worst game of the season in a 106-84 loss at Utah.
"We played bad," he said. "I don't know how else to put it."
Last time the Wolves played that bad -- a loss at Toronto in the season's second game -- they came back the next night and trailed by double digits at Brooklyn before pulling off a spirited comeback that sparked a three-game winning streak.
"In an 82-game season you're going to have games like that and we haven't had one for a while," Adelman said. "The key is not to keep going in that direction. We have to respond tonight."
They will do so against a Nuggets team that is getting point guard Ty Lawson back in the lineup after missing Monday's victory that stopped the Clippers' 17-game win streak at Pepsi Center.
Lawson says he will play despite an Achilles tendon strain.
The Wolves' lineup stays the same, although you might see a bit more of newly signed Lazar Hayward tonight because is the second game of back-to-back games. Hayward played the final six minutes in last night's blowout loss, his first action since being signed on Monday.
Homecoming: Kirilenko returns to Utah
Posted by: Jerry Zgoda under Wolves injury report, Wolves pre-game, Wolves news Updated: January 2, 2013 - 2:23 PMThe Timberwolves have come and gone from morning shootaround at EnergySolutions Arena here in Salt Lake City and Andrei Kirilenko avoided stepping foot in the visitor's locker room in his first visit back after playing 10 years for the Jazz.
"I haven't been in there, I'm afraid to go in," he said. "I didn't even know where the guest locker room is. And now I know."
The Jazz drafted him 24th overall in 1999 and developed a relatively unknown Russian into an All Star and then massively paid him like one with an $86 million contract once upon a time.
"I mean, I had a great 10 years here," he said. "I feel like I know every fan for the first 10 rows. It's going to be fun. It's doing to be a very strange feeling, but I guess that's the basketball life...I feel special when I step in EnergySolutions Arena and see all the staff that worked here for 10 years and I know them by name, every one of them. They're happy to see you and I've very happen to see them. That's special.
"I grew up here as an NBA player, coming into the league 19, 20 years old, become an All Star and get the majority of my career here. There are tons of great moments here. There is no one moment. It's part of my life here.
"I was thinking, `How many games I play here? 500, 400 games here? That's a lot and every game is special.. You really feel special when you play for 10 years for the same team. It's a great feeling."
He said likely will be both cheered and booed by Utah fans when he is introduced tonight.
"I've always been a fan of remembers as a good person rather than just a good player," Kirilenko said. "I think if the people remember you as a good personality, I think it goes a long way rather than just a good player but being a jackass or whatever."
He still has a house in Salt Lake City and his wife, Masha, will be here tonight.
"It looks like a little bit lonely, but it's life," he said about visiting his house on Tuesday. "We're always trying to do the best thing for your family, for yourself, so..."
One other thing:
* Newly signed Lazar Hayward said his two practices with the team have prepared him to play as much as Rick Adelman needs him tonight, what with Ricky Rubio home in Minnesota because of those back spasms and the Wolves down to just three healthy guards again.
Adelman likes to scrimmage a lot in his practice, and Hayward called that approach just right these last two days.
"That's exactly what I need for these guys to get comfortable with me and see how I play a little bit," Hayward said. "I'm definitely ready. I'm just waiting, hoping Coach gives me a good opportunity to give what the team needs."
Adelman says he'll play Hayward some at shooting guard out of necessity, and Hayward says he is willing and able.
"I played it a little bit in Oklahoma City when I got in the game, so I'm familiar with it," he said. "It's not anything I can't do. It's just guarding it, that's all, just guarding smaller guys. Defense, rebounding, hitting open shots, whatever the team needs, I'll be that."
Rubio not expected to make two-game trip West
Posted by: Jerry Zgoda under Wolves injury report, Wolves practice news, Vikings, Wolves news Updated: January 1, 2013 - 1:59 PMMy colleague/boss Dennis Brackin covered practice for me today at Target Center while I head to the airport to catch a flight westward for this quick two-game trip to Salt Lake City and Denver.
He reports:
* Don't expect Ricky Rubio to make the trip because of that stiff back that caused him to miss Saturday's victory over Phoenix.
Rick Adelman said it didn't make much sense to put Rubio and his spasming back on a plane to Utah and Denver for back-to-back games, the second of which he's wasn't going to play anyway.
Instead, unless there's a late change in plans before the team flies today, they'll keep him here for treatment and try to get him healthy for Saturday's game against Portland.
The start time for that 7 p.m. game, btw, won't be changed to avoid conflict with the Vikings' playoff game at Green Bay because Portland plays the night before in Memphis and needs 24 hours before it plays again and because the Wolves have their big, annual prep Shootout scheduled for Saturday and the headlining Apple Valley-Robbinsdale Cooper game is set for 3 p.m. and there's no wiggle room to move the start time up a couple, three hours.
* Andrei Kirilenko makes his return to Utah to play the Jazz for the first time after playing his first 10 NBA seasons there.
He said after practice that he can't imagine how he'll feel walking out onto the court and said he probably will recognize every fan sitting in the first 20 rows there.
Wolves bring back Lazar Hayward
Posted by: Jerry Zgoda under Wolves management, Wolves players, Wolves news Updated: December 31, 2012 - 11:50 AMThe Wolves this morning have signed former Wolf Lazar Hayward to replace Josh Howard on the roster.
The Wolves selected Hayward very late in the 2010 first round, then traded him to Oklahoma City right before last season.
The Thunder traded him to Houston in the James Harden deal in October and the Rockets quickly waived him.
A 6-6 swingman, he addresses the Wolves need for a defender to back up Andrei Kirilenko at small forward.
They waived Howard earlier this month after he tore his ACL in a game at New Orleans.
The Wolves also worked out James Anderson and Joey Graham last week in auditions for the roster spot.
They still could be signing Hayward for the short term and still pursue a player such as European small forward Mickael Gelabale, who has an NBA out in his Spanish contract until Jan. 30.
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recent posts
- Postgame: Say what? Wolves rally, win without Love
- What will it be tonight for Wolves?
- Homecoming: Kirilenko returns to Utah
- Rubio not expected to make two-game trip West
- Wolves bring back Lazar Hayward
- Wolves sign Lazar Hayward
- Postgame: Wolves heating up in December
- Roy to explore "additional treatment options'' on knee; Rubio out tonight
- Roy contemplating retirement?
- Roy misses practice for personal reasons
- B-Roy eyes Saturday return, Pek back at practice
- Postgame: Wolves lose another lead in Houston loss
- Love will play vs. Rockets, more Ricky likely, too
- Without Love, Wolves go small today in New York
- Eye injury will keep Love out of the lineup Sunday
- Postgame: Wolves stop that streak at 12, beat OKC
- Wolves waive injured Howard, Lee could be lost for season as well
- Postgame: Wolves double up Heat on boards, still lose by 11
- Pekovic, Love will play tonight at Miami, Rubio won't
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