LOS ANGELES – The Timberwolves went back to work Monday night again in Los Angeles, this time against the Clippers.
They did so just 22 hours after they ended a 22-game losing streak against the Lakers at the very same Staples Center, just 22 hours after Wolves coach Rick Adelman again demanded much of his starters through the game's first three quarters.
With his bench diminished by injuries to Chase Budinger and Ronny Turiaf and underperforming, Adelman played his starters almost all of the first three quarters Sunday before he was able to get them some rest in the fourth quarter of a 20-something point game.
A week ago, he pushed his starters to a victory at New York and the next night the Wolves fought to find their legs in Cleveland. On Monday, they had to come back and play the Clippers, but at least it was in the same arena, in the same city without a travel night in between.
"Everybody wants to look at that," Adelman said when asked about starters' playing time. "I wanted to win the game. I thought it was important. We're trying to establish something. I don't want to play people 45 minutes, but we've got to get ourselves to where we know what we're doing and our bench hasn't played real well. A lead can evaporate quickly."
On Sunday, Adelman played mostly a seven-man rotation on Sunday, mixing in reserves Dante Cunningham and J.J. Barea while always keeping at least two starters on the floor. On Monday, Adelman went to his bench more liberally, sending five guys, including Derrick Williams and rookie Gorgui Dieng, into the game in the first quarter after Kevin Love picked up two quick fouls.
The Wolves didn't have to travel Sunday night. They returned to their hotel and came back to Staples Center the next night against a different opponent. Veteran Corey Brewer said playing time at this point in the season shouldn't matter.
"We can't think like that," Brewer said. "We're young. We're young guys with young legs. We've got to get it done."
