I can't remember the last time I watched a Wolves game when the backcourt, from start to finish, played better. Maybe back in the 2003-04 season, when Sammy Cassell was rolling and Troy Hudson, though usually hurt, had an occasional strong game.
Malcom Lee didn't miss a shot, didn't turn the ball over and had an assist and 10 points. Luke Ridnour had 10 points and four assists. And then there was J.J. Barea and Alexey Shved. Barea had his first double-double of the season and Shved hit four of seven three-pointers on the way to a team-high 17 points.
The Wolves won easily, on the road against a winning team, on a night when Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic combined to shoot 5-for-17. It's nights like this that makes you wonder how good this team can be once Ricky Rubio is back. Not to mention Andrei Kirilenko, who stayed home with back spasms.
"Malcolm and Luke got us going," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "Then J.J. and Alexey were great."
That about sums this one up. Here are some other observations from tonight's action:
--I think the fact that four of the five Wolves starters didn't play in the fourth quarter will help the team tomorrow in Boston.
--I think Love, whose double-double streak ended at six after he shot 2-for-10, will have a bigger night Wednesday playing against Kevin Garnett.
--Josh Howard continues to improve as he gets his legs under him. He played a season-high 29:01, got his first double-double since April 10, 2009 and hit on seven of 12 shots {two of three three-pointers).
