Different day, similar pattern

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Just two games and three days into both a new season and a new day in Timberwolves' history, it's already clear that the coming days and beyond will be an exploration for everything except perhaps energy and effort.

A search for a playing rotation that will deliver bench strength, for a dependable scorer at game's end, for an advantage some night soon at the free-throw line, for their identity, for victory.

As they did in Friday's season opening loss against Denver, the Wolves surged early, ebbed late and lamented afterward a whopping difference in free throws attempted.

They outrebounded the Knicks, committed one fewer turnover and missed forcing overtime when Antoine Walker, after sitting for the previous 32 minutes, launched a desperate three-pointer that bounded off the rim in the final 10 seconds of a 97-93 loss.

"We're right there," said forward Ryan Gomes, who delivered a team-high 19 points. "It's not like we're getting blown out."

Ahead by 10 points in the first quarter, down by eight with five minutes left in the game, the Wolves pushed the Knicks to the final shot on a night when the free-throw disparity was 39-10 in attempts and 30-6 in shots made.

Wolves coach Randy Wittman echoed his comments from Friday, when the Nuggets attempted 38 free throws to their 19, by saying his young team must still "earn respect, I guess." But he also acknowledged the Wolves' 31 personal fouls -- almost double New York's 16 -- that sent the Knicks to the line way too early. He praised his players hustle, but termed some of their decisions made as "silly."Getting them into the bonus with eight minutes left in a quarter hurt us," forward Al Jefferson said, referring to Sunday's fourth quarter. "It hurt us bad both games."

This time, the Wolves had no reply for Knicks guard Jamal Crawford during a 24-point night. They also had no answer for another fourth-quarter dearth, when the Knicks outscored them 8-0 in a two-minute span midway through the quarter that transformed a tie game into an eight-point deficit.

"We might be 0-2, but these guys are out there fighting and playing well together," Wittman said.

The Wolves built an early 19-9 lead after both Jefferson and reserve Craig Smith exploited the Knicks' defense inside. Jefferson scored 10 points in the first quarter alone.

Their search to find a steady scorer at crunch time was complicated when Rashad McCants, the team's leading scorer against Denver, fouled out midway through the fourth quarter with 13 points. The team's offense down the stretch flowed through Jefferson, who scored consecutive baskets to get the Wolves within three points with two minutes left.

They still trailed by three, but had the ball with 11 seconds remaining when Walker entered the game, his first appearance since early in the second quarter. Wittman said he summoned Walker because he didn't like the matchups if he sent out a small lineup, and because Walker is a tall, veteran outside shooter.

"I've shot those types of shots my whole career," said Walker, who launched a long, quick shot that missed. "It's a natural reaction. It was very much a winnable game. We've played well enough to be 2-0."

Jerry Zgoda • jzgoda@startribune.com