Timberwolves dig deep hole in losing to Chicago at home

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: October 23, 2008 - 7:29 AM

Following training camp in Mankato and preseason "home" games in Billings, Mont., and Bismarck, N.D., Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman earlier this week noted it would be good to be back at Target Center.

Early on, the return was one to forget. But once again a sizeable comeback almost made it memorable.

Eight days after coming back from 19 points down to beat the Bulls in Chicago, Minnesota nearly did it again.

Down by 20 after an error-filled, nine-point first quarter Wednesday, those first 12 minutes proved too costly in the 85-75 loss.

"Better to get it out of the way now," Wittman said, adding a performance like that of Wednesday's first quarter would really smart had it been during the regular season, which begins in less than a week.

Eventually the early game rout became a ballgame.

Kevin Ollie's layup off a steal by Rodney Carney made it 72-70 with 10 minutes left. Rashad McCants hit a three-pointer with 7:47 to go, cutting Chicago's lead to one, 74-73.

Minnesota could never claim the lead, though, outscored 11-2 the rest of the way.

The Timberwolves finished with a 32.5 percent mark from the field, a preseason low.

"Every team has one," forward Mike Miller said of Minnesota's off night. "This [was] our game in the preseason we didn't play very well. You have to give Chicago credit. [But] there are things we definitely need to work on. That's why it's preseason."

Larry Hughes led Chicago with 21 points before leaving the game because of a dislocated right shoulder in the third quarter.

Love at first sight

Rookie Kevin Love made his Target Center debut when he checked into the game as the first player off the bench and received polite applause from the sparse crowd. Love, though, did not impress. He finished with four points on 1-for-10 shooting. His lone made field goal was a slam dunk with 2:19 left.

"Most of them were right there," he said of the nine misses. "The easy shots you make 80-90 percent of the time I just missed. Hopefully [today] they'll fall."

Cardinal in, Booth out

Center Calvin Booth (back spasms) and forward Brian Cardinal (calf) were both cleared to play following the morning shoot around. Neither had seen preseason game action prior to Wednesday. However, only Cardinal got into the game against the Bulls. He played four minutes, picking up two quick fouls.

Wittman said he expected to make some roster cuts today.

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