Continued: Jefferson gets message, gets defensive

Print this story

E-mail this story

Save to del.icio.us

Share on Facebook

Share on Digg

WOLVES 99, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 90

Up next: vs. Memphis • 7 p.m. Wednesday • Target Center • TV: FSN (106.1-FM)

More from Timberwolves

The Timberwolves' 16th victory of the season -- and fourth in the past six games -- proved significant Monday night at Target Center.

Their 99-90 decision over the injury-depleted, road-weary Los Angeles Clippers surpassed with five weeks to spare the 1991-92 Timberwolves' 15-67 season that set a franchise record for futility.

It also meant that after what coach Randy Wittman called a month of cajoling and at least one night of action, Wolves star forward Al Jefferson answered his challenge.

Imploring Jefferson to play with as much attention to detail at one end of the floor as the other with repeated words and a nine-minute benching Friday in Seattle, Wittman watched Jefferson block four shots by halftime Monday on a night when the Wolves pick-and-rolled the Clippers into submission by game's end.

Their efficiency in that standard-issue play contributed to 24 assists -- 10 of them from Marko Jaric, six from Rashad McCants -- and Jefferson's 16 second-half points. But Jefferson called his team's offensive execution secondary.

"We moved the ball," he said, "but defense was the key."

Wittman sat Jefferson for most of Friday's third quarter because he didn't help his teammates out on defense. With rookie forward Chris Richard on the floor in his place, the Wolves turned a seven-point deficit into a 13-point lead by the time Jefferson returned early in the fourth quarter.

"I don't like to sit on the bench because of my mistakes," Jefferson said.

Monday, he blocked two shots in the game's first 70 seconds and another before the game was eight minutes old. Corey Maggette scored 34 points for the Clippers, but it wasn't nearly enough, thanks to the Wolves' 31-24 fourth quarter.

"It helps out to set an example from the beginning of the game," he said. "I enjoy it, getting a blocked shot."

Afterward, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, his team ending a five-game Eastern trip, lamented the absence of his blossoming young center Chris Kaman, who missed his fifth consecutive game because of a sore back. He said, "Jefferson not having to guard anybody, really, in the low post" contributed to the big guy's efficiency on both ends.

"It's so nice to have someone back there who can challenge the shooter when someone drives in the paint," Wittman said. "Al responded big-time tonight, which was wonderful to see."

Jefferson's defensive play might have proven both good and bad.

"Now that he knows I can do it," Jefferson said with a smile, "he'll be looking for that every night."

The Wolves' 3-21 start to the season was one of the NBA's all-time nine worst. They surpassed the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers' all-time worst record with their 10th victory on Feb. 1 and on Monday assured themselves that their team won't wipe Jimmy Rodgers' guys from the Wolves record book.

"What's the worst record?" Jefferson asked. "I didn't even know that. I don't want to get a new record around here.

"Our goal is to get 20-plus wins. When you're not playing for the playoffs, you set little goals to get you through the season, and we can do that."

Notes

• Wittman will fly from Minneapolis to California on Thursday morning to watch his son, Ryan, play for Cornell in the NCAA tournament that afternoon in Anaheim. Then he will catch a red-eye flight for Indianapolis, where he is scheduled to arrive just in time for the Wolves' Friday morning shootaround.

"Someway, somehow you make it," said Wittman, who will have assistant Jerry Sichting lead Thursday's practice while he is away to watch Ryan play third-seeded Stanford. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch your son play in the NCAA tournament. Like I always tell our guys, family comes first."

• Guard Sebastian Telfair is not expected to practice until next week at the earliest because of a sprained ankle sustained 11 days ago in Sacramento.

• Veteran center Michael Doleac was back on the bench with the team after the two-game Western road trip. He and his wife, Shannon, still are awaiting the birth of their child, due any day.

Recent Timberwolves stories

Under 19-world title lands Dixon USA Basketball coach of year award - March 18, 2008

Under 19-world title lands Dixon USA Basketball coach of year award - Jamie Dixon of Pitt has been chosen as USA Basketball's national coach of the year for guiding the United States' first FIBA under-19 world championship team since 1991. More