'Fun' returns for Foye in brief scrimmage run

Carlos Gonzalez, Associated Press - Ap

Randy Foye

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: January 23, 2008 - 12:53 AM

Timberwolves guard Randy Foye scrimmaged with his teammates for about 15 minutes Tuesday, the next step in his return from a kneecap injury that has sidelined him all season.

"I got back to it today, scored a couple of baskets," Foye said after a practice that also included sprints and a conditioning test at workout's end. "I had fun."

Foye will increase his practice time in full-contact drills if he experiences no pain or swelling in a knee that has sidelined him since October, when a developing crack was diagnosed on his kneecap.

"We'll see tomorrow and see how he reacts to it," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said Tuesday. "If everything stays fine, we'll keep bumping things up. Once we can get to where he can go for full practices, we'll have a better understanding about when he'll be ready to play."

Foye remained home during the team's three-game Western trip that ended with Monday's victory at Golden State and worked out under the supervision of team executives Kevin McHale and Fred Hoiberg.

"To tell you the truth, the rehab is tougher for me because I've got to run and jump," Foye said. "I feel better when I can just get out there and play and run up and down. The only hard part about that is just getting tired because I don't usually get tired. I'd much rather practice than do rehab."

Halfway home

The Wolves reach the halfway point of the season -- Game 41 in an 82-game season -- tonight against Phoenix at Target Center.

"It seems like a little bit longer than half of a season because we have six wins and it's 41 games tomorrow," said forward Ryan Gomes, who scored a career-high 35 points Monday. "That's one out of every seven games, if you're doing the numbers. We've just got to get wins and not worry that we're six-and-whatever."

Wolves guard Sebastian Telfair said he and his teammates have 42 more games to play for each other and for themselves.

"We are still trying to bond together and see what we have as a team," said Telfair, a restricted free agent this summer. "This is not the last year of basketball. We're playing for the coaches, we're playing for the organization. It's a rebuilding stage for us and I want to be part of that.

"I want to be here next year. I like playing here. I like the organization I'm basically playing for a contract to still be here. A lot of guys are playing for contracts."

Streaking?

Three of the Wolves' six victories have come against the Suns, the Warriors and New Orleans, teams that are a combined 83-42. Wittman termed those victories "reassuring" to his players.

"I don't know what it is," said Gomes, whose team has also beaten Sacramento, Indiana and Miami. "Those games we won were against pretty good teams. Now we have to do that against every team."

The Wolves still have not won consecutive games this season. "That's still our goal," Wittman said. "We accomplish our goal of getting two wins in a row and then we've got a new goal. That's where we're at."