The Timberwolves were 0-4 on the road and lost those games by an average of 30 points. They took these embarrassments into Staples Center last week to play the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The Wolves played the Lakers to the final minute and lost 99-94. One reason for this effort was Kevin Love's outstanding production in his matchup with Lamar Odom, the Lakers' veteran power forward.
Love finished with 23 points and 24 rebounds -- a precursor to the 31-31 performance he would put up against the New York Knicks last Saturday night in Target Center.
This was such a monumental event that the Wolves produced T-shirts with 31-31 emblazoned and Love in action. The Wolves were back home for the first time since Love's epic effort and the T-shirts were offered as an incentive for fans in attendance to purchase a new six-game ticket package.
The Lakers were the opponents, and there was an announced sellout of 19,356. The customers came with the hope of a competitive game, considering the Wolves had played the two-time defending champions close only 10 nights earlier.
Except that long-legged, gray fox from the North Dakota prairie, Phil Jackson, pressed a button that caused Odom to arrive with considerable resolve.
"Lamar was embarrassed because of that first performance," Jackson said. "I told him after that game, 'Now I know how Love made the U.S. team; he got to practice against you every day.'"
Love and Odom were teammates on the U.S. team that swept to the world championship this summer.