Dang you Pacers: Wolves lose 128-124 in overtime; team waives Thomas, Hart

All that stands between the Timberwolves and preseason perfection is...

the Indiana Pacers?

Yep, the Wolves fell to 5-2 in the preseason with Tuesday night's overtime loss to an opponent that beat them in Indianapolis six days earlier.

This time, the Pacers were missing star Danny Granger and the Wolves were without Darko Milicic (neck, shoulder), Martell Webster (back spasms) and, of course, Jonny Flynn (hip).

The Wolves led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, but ultimately -- with starting center Kosa Koufos and Nikola Pekovic trying -- had no answer to defend third-year center Roy Hibbert, whose 27-point, 16-rebound game was too much on a night when Rambis experimented with his reserves down the stretch and right into overtime.

A few things tonight:

* Kevin Love again looked like he's growing into the role of first offensive option and possible go-to guy by following Sunday's 32-point, 13-rebound performance in Sioux Falls with a 28-point, 11-rebound night in fewer than 29 minutes.

* Rambis turned to backup point guard Sebastian Telfair for 19 points and 29 minutes and rode him down the stretch because he felt Bassy did a better job defensively keeping in front of Darren Collison and AJ Price.

* Corey Brewer returned to the starting lineup at shooting guard, a position that seems to get more muddled than it becomes clear as the days pass. His preseason shooting woes continued with a 2-for-7 night (4 points) in 17 minutes while Wes Johnson played 29 and Wayne Ellington 27. Ellington again looked like the most efficient of the three while Webster watched in street clothes while a stim unit was strapped to his back. Rookie Lazar Hayward also had a nice, efficient 7-minute stretch in the second quarter.

UPDATED WEDNESDAY MORNING:

The Wolves this morning waived center John Thomas and guard Jason Hart to get their roster to 15 players.

Maurice Ager remains.