There are many questions about DeMarcus Cousins, some of which caused the Timberwolves to pass on him in favor of taking Wesley Johnson fourth overall in last month's draft.

This shouldn't be one of them, not after tonight:

Does he care?

Cousins faced the Wolves for the first time and played with passion and fire.

And this was a summer-league game in Las Vegas.

His 14-foot hook shot in the final three shots won it 79-78 for a Kings team that had likely rotation regulars Omri Casspi, Donte Greene, Cousins and perhaps Hassan Whiteside while the Wolves played without injured Johnson and Jonny Flynn.

He finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four steals, five turnovers and a blocked shot.

Those were fairly meaningless numbers because it is a summer-league game after all, but what mattered was the presence with which he played.

And the intensity, a lot of which the Wolves could use.

And talent. He can shoot it and pass it.

"Oh, man, he's a horse," Wolves second-year guard Wayne Ellington said. "He's going to have a real good career in this league. He's got to calm down a little bit with his attitude, but other than that, he's got a lot of talent. He knocked down jumpers, he hit that hook shot. It looked like one of Al Jefferson's."

After the game, Flynn tweeted, "Demarcus Cousins is really good. Very impressive."

At least his last name doesn't rhyme with "Johnson."

Ellington followed Monday's 2-for-11 summer-league opener with a 9-for-17 24-point night when he was needed to carry a team depleted by the absence of Flynn and Johnson.

Sounds like I missed the best part of the night while I was sitting courtside here at Cox Pavilion at UNLV:

I missed the NBA TV broadcast interview exchange between Chris Webber and David Kahn.

I heard it was priceless stuff, with Webber first ripping Kahn's personnel moves and then with Kahn coming over to teh headphones for a little give-and-take inquisition, particularly about why he traded Al Jefferson for draft picks and when Kahn mentioned CWebb and Darko in the same sentence.

Anybody hear it?

Was it good stuff?

On other fronts:

* The Wolves didn't announce Luke Ridnour's signing today and might not tomorrow, either.

They're trying to trade Ramon Sessions first; Cleveland is the latest team to have some interest.

* First-round pick Lazar Hayward went 5 for 14 but still showed that smooth outside jumper and a willingness to take a charge.

* Poor Greg Stiemsma and Patrick O'Bryant, they got punished on occasion trying to stay between Cousins and the basket.

* Former UNC forward Deon Thompson looked good: 10 points (5 for 10), seven rebounds, five fouls and, oops, five turnovers.

Well, that's it for me from Las Vegas.

I came out for the first three days and what a busy three days they were. Didn't see a game other than the Wolves' first two because of the Michael Beasley and Jefferson trade.

Kahn's streak was broken today: He didn't have a conference call with reporters.

He'll be back in the Twin Cities tomorrow -- and so will I -- for about eight hours to introduce Beasley at a Target Center press conference.

More tomorrow.

Good night from Las Vegas!