For Love, impressive debut and sweet relief

Aside from senior night last season at UCLA, when he graciously let Lorenzo Mata-Real take the floor in his place, Kevin Love cannot remember another time in his life entering a basketball game off the bench.

But Wednesday, in the Timberwolves' 98-96 season-opening victory over Sacramento, Love had to wait until 1 minute, 12 seconds remained in the first quarter to make his NBA debut. Thirteen seconds later, he kicked off his scoring career by making a layup off a missed free throw by Craig Smith.

One shot. Two points. Relief.

"Well, we got the first one out of the way," Love said.

He was talking about the Minnesota victory. But for Love, getting those first points under his belt was important, too. Especially after having some pregame butterflies that had nothing to do with facing the Kings; Love was nervous about his brief address to the Target Center crowd before the tipoff. He then brushed off any nerves and found his touch.

"Once I got into a groove, got out there for the first time, I was fine," he said.

Love played under 19 minutes in the game -- and was removed with 3:40 to play when Sacramento moved John Salmons to power forward -- but still finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

"Any time you rebound like that -- finish around the basket -- it's impressive," Timberwolves guard Mike Miller said. "If he continues to bring that, we're going to be really good."

Of all his plays, Love's biggest came when he drove for a crowd-pleasing, two-handed slam dunk that put Minnesota up 83-80. He also converted a three-point play after he was fouled on a hook shot. The free-throw pushed Minnesota's lead to 90-84.

Love also made layups, tip-ins and tried from outside in the game.

"That's who Kevin is," coach Randy Wittman said. "He does a little bit of everything. He shoots, he rebounds. I thought he rebounded excellent."

Wittman wondered aloud how many of Love's rebounds came on offense, and was told it was four.

"But he got his hands on how many others?" Wittman said. "He kept [rebounds] alive."

Making his pro debut with six family members in attendance was a dream come true for Love. So, too, were those first points, and of course that first victory.

Love, though, is a realist.

"It was nice having that crowd on my side," Love said. "Hopefully they stay on my side, too. Nobody's ever perfect. If it was easy, everyone would play. There's going to be some growing pains, be times when I'm down. Hopefully people still got my back."

Before the game, the Timberwolves announced they exercised team options for next year on both Randy Foye and Corey Brewer. Foye's fourth-year option will pay him $3.57 million. Brewer's third-year option is worth $2.9 million.

• The victory was Minnesota's 13th in its past 14 home openers.

• Foye made only one three-pointer, but he now has made at least one shot from beyond the arc in 18 consecutive games dating to last season.

• Al Jefferson opened the schedule with a double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) for the second time in as many seasons with the Timberwolves. He had five consecutive double-doubles to start last season en route to 55 for the year, third most in the league behind Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.