It was the kind of game the Timberwolves, as a group, needed --a blowout victory of a struggling team, a chance to get back some footing after a four-game losing streak.
But the Wolves' 121-93 victory over Golden State on Wednesday was even more important for one player: Rashad McCants.
The near-certainly of the victory allowed coach Randy Wittman to play McCants more than 10 minutes, enough time for McCants to show what he can do while at the same time learn how far he still has to go.
"I needed a night like last night," McCants said after the team's practice Thursday. "I was able to bounce the ball up the court. I made a couple turnovers, making me know I'm rusty."
What a mix of emotions. In Wednesday's victory, McCants scored 10 points in 10 minutes of playing time. He hit three of seven shots: a nice post-up, an open-court dunk (taking off on his surgically repaired right knee) and a late three-pointer, his first since last season.
More and more, McCants is feeling a part of the team he joined last year as a rookie. And yet, seven months removed from microfracture surgery, McCants is feeling, well, rusty.
Surprisingly rusty.
"You feel like you've still got it, that it never really left. And then you get out on the court and you feel it," said McCants, who has played in the Wolves' past five games. "You have to get readjusted to how fast things go. That will come from playing, getting comfortable on the floor."
Coach Randy Wittman said he saw more bounce in McCants' legs Wednesday than he had seen in his previous outings. However McCants hasn't yet rediscovered his sweet outside touch. And he's still trying to comfortable with the flow of the game.
Wittman has encouraged McCants to work at staying aggressive, to try to get comfortable close to the basket before moving back to the perimeter. The key is to give McCants enough time to continue to progress while not putting him in situations where his confidence could be hurt.
As for pure playing time? Wittman goes on what he sees each night.
"It's how I feel about how he's looking," Wittman said. "I don't want to put him out there just to put him out there. He needs to stay aggressive, go to the basket, get some easy baskets, get to the free throw line. Not settle for perimeter shots. That's the last thing that's going to come back for him anyway, after all the months he's been out."
McCants admits to some soreness as he works his way back, but not in his right knee. No swelling, no new pain, no reason to think anything is wrong there.
And that has allowed him to focus on other things.
Like, for example, the joy of the game. Two games before he actually returned, Wittman allowed McCants to dress out and sit on the bench.
"I was so happy to be there," McCants said. "And then, when [Wittman] told me I'd be able to play in a game, I remember smiling the whole time he was talking to me."
McCants got a couple minutes in the Wolves' loss to Sacramento, a few more in Oklahoma City. He played 11 minutes Monday in Houston, 10 on Wednesday.
"My first three games I was a little content," he said. "I felt a little passive. [Wednesday] I was more aggressive. As time goes on, I'll get more and more aggressive, earn more minutes and be more productive."
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