Love savors rematch with Spurs' Duncan

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: December 12, 2008 - 11:47 PM

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In only his fourth NBA game Nov. 5, Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love drew perhaps the toughest assignment of his entire playing career: going toe to toe with San Antonio star Tim Duncan.

Love fared well in the game, eventually won by the Spurs in two overtimes. He finished within an eyelash of his first career double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds. One of his three blocks came on a layup attempt by Duncan in the second quarter.

As the teams prepared to play again Friday at Target Center, Love was eager to get another crack at the future Hall of Famer.

"That was exciting," Love said of the season's first matchup. "Every time I get to match up against a guy like that it's always going to be fun, always going to be competitive."

Love said Duncan was one of a handful of players he emulated growing up. He lauded Duncan's trademark stone-faced play.

"Regardless if he's having a terrible game, regardless if he's having a great game, it's just that," Love said.

He then recalled a television commercial in which Duncan refrains from blinking despite a flurry of activity.

"That's what I think of when I think of him," Love said. "Huge fundamental guy, fun to watch. And I think of winning, too."

Duncan did that Friday, getting 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Spurs' 98-86 victory. Love scored 19 but got only two rebounds.

Brewer's surgery set

Surgery to repair the torn ACL in Corey Brewer's right knee will be performed Wednesday.

Brewer, who was injured Nov. 29 against the Nuggets and is out for the year, said having to watch his teammates these past few games has been more painful than the injury.

"It really never hurt, since it happened it hasn't really hurt," Brewer said. "It's hard to watch, man. Especially when you want to be out there. It's just an obstacle you have to get past. I feel that once I start doing my rehab and stuff, I feel like it'll be just as good as new."

Campbell returns

The Wolves brought Tony Campbell to town for Friday's game against San Antonio as part of their 20th-season anniversary celebration. From afar, he has watched a franchise that has come what he calls "full circle," although he knows there never will be a time again like that very first season.

"It's almost like it's coming back around, the ebb and flow of an NBA franchise," Campbell said. "Last year's wins and losses were exactly the same as our first year there, if I'm not mistaken. Just to be there in the beginning was a special thing. Coach [Bill] Musselman supplied the animation and we continued with more drama. We were like enemies in some of our practices and yet we always came together as a team. Nobody played harder than those teams did."

Campbell had his two best seasons as a pro with the Wolves. He averaged 23.2 and 21.8 points per game in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons, respectively.

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