Wolves' McCants finding comfort in all aspects of his game

DENVER — The Timberwolves' careening exhibition victory over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in beautiful Billings, Mont., embodied all that is Rashad McCants.

The same guy who dribbled himself into predicaments and whose defensive indiscretion caused him foul trouble also rescued the Wolves in the fourth quarter, when they trailed by nine points and won by six, due in good measure to the mercurial guard's offensive will.

The Wolves won a game coach Randy Wittman said they likely would have lost a year ago by marching a parade to the free-throw line. In that fourth quarter, they attempted 10 and made nine while the Thunder attempted only one (and missed it at that) in the debut of the renamed franchise.

After a spectacularly uneven start that mirrored his team, McCants was 6-for-6 in the quarter and 8-for-8 for the night at the free-throw line, a statistical category that listed heavily in favor of the opposition a season ago.

McCants has shot 20 free throws and made 18 in two preseason games preparing for a fourth NBA season that could be watershed in his career.

"I feel comfortable where I'm at right now," said McCants, referring to a pro career that included serious microfracture knee surgery three summers ago. "I've come in every year I've been in the league and I've gotten better every year. Despite my injuries or mishaps or coming off the bench or whatever, I come in and try to give whatever my team asks of me. This year won't be any different."

Wittman knows well McCants' gifted offensive game. What he wants now is consistency from McCants on both ends of the floor, a request that in Monday's preseason opener yielded three steals from a player whom Wittman moved into a sixth-man role last season. It's a spot where McCants likely will remain now that Mike Miller was acquired last summer.

"We sat down numerous times -- some really good conversations -- this summer and talked about it," Wittman said. "He's not slow. He's got strength. He's got those qualities that he uses at the offensive end. I know he can do that [score], but he has to do the other thing [play defense].

"Urgency is a good word. That's what I need from him. He knows it."

McCants said he spent all summer working against opponents as diverse in size and position as Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Clippers guard Baron Davis, to improve both his 1-on-1 defense and his ability to drive to the basket and draw fouls.

A season ago, when the Wolves went 22-60, McCants expressed reluctance at being one of the first players off the bench, claiming his team had its best chance to win when he started games and scored big numbers.

This season, he said he will do whatever Wittman requests of him as he enters the final guaranteed season on a rookie contract the Wolves have already renewed twice.

"Not at all," McCants said when asked if he objects to a reserve's role. "Not as long as we're winning games, it doesn't matter to me at all. I'm going to be a leader. I'm going to do whatever Coach wants me to do."

In Wednesday's 88-82 victory, Wittman watched McCants hold the ball too long, dribble too much and find foul trouble; he fouled out with three minutes remaining. But Wittman also saw McCants help lead his team back in the fourth quarter.

"Night and day," Wittman said. "The first half, he reverted back. I challenged him at halftime, and to his credit, he came out and was the other guy again."

• New center David Harrison joined the team in Denver on Thursday and walked through some plays because he still has a strained calf suffered in a free-agent workout at Target Center last month and hasn't yet taken his physical. He signed his one-year, nonguaranteed contract after practice.

• Craig Smith practiced Thursday after most of the swelling in his knee went down. The forward didn't play Wednesday because that knee, surgically repaired in August, swelled during the flight to Montana. He will be re-evaluated before tonight's game against the Nuggets.

• Injured center Jason Collins rejoined the team after visiting his own doctor in California on Wednesday to have his healing elbow checked again.