Timberwolves-Bucks Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Dec 27 2011 4:38PM

The Milwaukee Bucks weren't feeling good about themselves after coughing up a big lead in their season opener. Despite also coming up short in their first game, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a more optimistic attitude.

A night after solid debuts from Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams, the Timberwolves will hope for a better result Tuesday as they try to spoil Milwaukee's home opener.

Minnesota (0-1) got good news twice in June, finding out early in the month that Rubio - the fifth pick in the 2009 draft - had agreed to sign with the Timberwolves, then later selecting Williams with the No. 2 overall pick.

Those two helped bring Minnesota back from as many as 12 down in the third quarter to take the lead early in the fourth in Monday's season opener against Oklahoma City, but the Thunder made enough plays down the stretch to escape with a 104-100 win.

"That's a team that's a contender and we took them down to the last minute," said Minnesota forward Kevin Love, who had 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. "The best thing is we gave ourselves a chance and if we play like that the rest of the season and continue to get better we're going to win a lot of games."

Williams had nine of his 13 points in the second half while Rubio finished with six points, six assists and no turnovers in 26 minutes.

"I feel comfortable on the court and I feel like I helped the team," Rubio said. "We didn't get it in the end, but we have a chance. If we go this way, we can do a lot of good things."

The Bucks (0-1) couldn't have played much better halfway through Monday's season debut in Charlotte, holding a 59-45 lead early in the third. However, Milwaukee's impressive early defense disappeared, and the Bobcats came roaring back to win 96-95.

Charlotte held a 52-39 edge on the boards, 15 of which came on the offensive end.

"They took it to us in the third quarter and we had a hard time responding," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "They got all over the offensive glass and we were flat-footed. They were quicker and more athletic. They outplayed us in the third quarter and took control of the game."

Minnesota and Milwaukee typically play twice each season, but with the shortened schedule Tuesday's meeting is the only time they'll see each other in 2011-12.

That's not to say they aren't familiar with one another. The Timberwolves and Bucks played a home-and-home during the preseason, with Minnesota winning 117-96 at the Target Center on Dec. 17 before escaping Milwaukee on Wednesday with an 85-84 victory.

Love averaged 21.5 points and 15.5 boards in the wins. Williams had 14 points in 21 minutes in the first matchup, while Rubio had six points and six assists before sitting out the road contest.

Last regular season, Love averaged 18.5 points and 16.5 rebounds while Michael Beasley averaged 21.0 points as the Timberwolves and Bucks split two meetings, each winning at home.

Brandon Jennings, who had a team-high 22 points for Milwaukee in Monday's loss, has averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 assists and 3.0 steals in two career regular-season home meetings against Minnesota.

Jennings helped pick up the slack Monday for Stephen Jackson, who had six points in his Bucks debut before fouling out in just 17 minutes. Jackson may have a good chance to bounce back, as he's averaged 32.0 points in his last three games versus Minnesota.

Milwaukee is seeking to win its home opener for the eighth time in nine seasons.

Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman will miss Tuesday's game to attend funeral services for his mother-in-law.

Bucks forward Drew Gooden also won't be in attendance, having been suspended one game for his flagrant foul in the opener. He was ejected late in the third quarter for hitting Charlotte's Gerald Henderson in the head with his arm. Gooden had only four points after averaging 11.3 last season.

Leuer helps Bucks hold off Timberwolves 98-95

By CHRIS JENKINS
Posted Dec 28 2011 12:35AM

MILWAUKEE (AP) It's far too early to bestow star status on Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jon Leuer.

He's not off to a bad start, though.

The second-round pick out of Wisconsin converted a three-point play with 1:17 left, helping the Bucks hold off the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 98-95 victory in their home opener Tuesday night.

Leuer was cheered loudly in pregame introductions, and it only got better from there.

"That's the Badger love, I guess, a little bit," Leuer said. "They were great fans for me my four years at Wisconsin, so I'm glad I get to keep playing for them."

Leuer finished the game with 14 points on 5 for 7 shooting and had eight rebounds. Bucks center Andrew Bogut joked that he might start losing some minutes.

"Jon was great," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "I probably should have played him more last night. He's earned his minutes out there."

Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and Stephen Jackson added 16 for the Bucks, who were playing without forward Drew Gooden because of a suspension and several other key players because of injuries.

Kevin Love had 31 points and 20 rebounds, repeatedly finding his way to the free throw line for the Timberwolves.

"We just dug ourselves a hole we shouldn't have been in," Love said. "We turned the ball over too much and they made some shots."

Minnesota was without coach Rick Adelman, who was attending funeral services for his mother-in-law. Assistant Terry Porter, a former head coach in Milwaukee, filled in.

The Timberwolves were sloppy on offense at times, with 25 turnovers.

"We tried to do some things, go for the home-run passes a couple of times," Porter said. "We just didn't do a good enough job offensively executing our set."

Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio had six points, four assists, three turnovers and three steals in 27-plus minutes.

"We were 20 down, so we started playing harder and trying to control the game," Rubio said. "And we did, but it was too late."

Milwaukee led by 10 after a pair of free throws by Jennings, but Luke Ridnour hit a long jumper and Michael Beasley hit a 3-pointer to cut the Bucks' lead to 94-89 with just under three minutes left.

Andrew Bogut fouled out with 2:08 left, sending Love to the line. He hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to four.

After a miss by Jennings, Beasley hit a jumper to cut the lead to two with 1:42 left.

On a chaotic possession for the Bucks, Leuer took a pass from Jennings and went up strong to the basket.

The ball went in as Leuer was fouled, and the second-round pick out of Wisconsin hit the free throw to complete the three-point play and put the Bucks up 97-92 with 1:17 left.

"It's good to have not only a rookie, but a center who can back me up and we don't lose too much," Bogut said. "He shoots the ball very well, he's very efficient offensively. Defensively, he's always in the right spots."

Free throws helped the Timberwolves cut the lead to 98-95, and they had the ball with 7.2 seconds left. But Love missed a 3-point attempt.

Milwaukee had a 20-point lead with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter but went cold from there, and it began to look as if they might blow the lead - just like they did in Monday night's season opener at Charlotte.

"We know we need to play better than that," Skiles said.

The undermanned Bucks won despite a huge night from Love.

The Timberwolves' big man made a living at the free throw line against a depleted Bucks defense in the first quarter, drawing whistle after whistle and forcing Skiles to keep rotating through frontcourt players getting in foul trouble.

Love shot 15 free throws in the first quarter alone, hitting 13 - and drawing the ire of Skiles, who was called for a technical foul with 1:22 left in the quarter after yet another call went Love's way.

"He's a monster, definitely," Leuer said. "But we contained him enough the second half."

Bogut said he was surprised to see Love draw so many calls.

"Yeah, definitely," Bogut said. "Without getting a fine here, it was tough. It was one of those games where nothing went our way."

The Bucks came into Tuesday's game short-handed in the frontcourt and expecting a handful from the Timberwolves.

Gooden was suspended for Tuesday night's game after committing a flagrant foul in the Bucks' season-opening loss at Charlotte on Monday night.

Beyond that, Bucks defensive stopper Luc Richard Mbah a Moute remained sidelined by tendinitis in his right knee, while Carlos Delfino (sprained right wrist) and first-round rookie Tobias Harris (dehyrdation) also sat out Tuesday.

NOTES: Bogut had 15 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. ... The Bucks were 2 for 16 from 3-point range. ... Minnesota outrebounded Milwaukee 54-45.

Timberwolves-Bucks notebook

By Rick Braun, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday December 28, 2011 12:12AM

THE FACTS: Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and second-round pick Jon Leuer had 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals in an unexpected fill-in role to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 98-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

QUOTABLE: "We picked Jon for a reason. I've always been a fan of Jon's. So far -- it's very early -- he's proven that he can play at this level. And tonight he earned more minutes, so we'll keep putting him out there and looking at him."
-- Bucks coach Scott Skiles on Leuer

THE STAT: While the Timberwolves enjoyed a 45-20 edge in free throw attempts and a 54-45 margin on the boards, it still wasn't enough to overcome their 26 turnovers.

TURNING POINT: Minnesota had all the momentum coming down the stretch, having cut a 20-point deficit to just two points on Michael Beasley's jumper with 1:41 left. Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut had fouled out with 2:08 left, so the Bucks were down their best inside offensive option. But Jennings drove the lane after a play broke down, and with the shot clock in its final stages he whipped a pass to a cutting Leuer, who scored and was fouled. Leuer's free throw made it 97-92 with 1:17 left, and the Bucks were able to hang on from there.

QUOTABLE II: "I was just trying to stay ready for whenever Coach called my name. I felt like I did a good job of helping the team."
-- Leuer

HOT: Minnesota forward Kevin Love posted 31 points and 20 rebounds, including a 19-for-24 performance from the free throw line.

NOT: Bucks shooting guard Stephen Jackson and Bogut each went 7-for-20 from the field. Minnesota's J.J. Barea clocked in at 1-for-9.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Love's 31-20 night is sure to please his fantasy owners.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Timberwolves assistant coach Jack Sikma and Bucks assistant coach Sidney Moncrief were teammates with the Bucks from 1986-'89.

GOOD MOVE: With Drew Gooden suspended for the game after a Flagrant 2 foul Monday night and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Carlos Delfino out with injuries, and Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders in early foul trouble, Skiles was forced in the second quarter to use a lineup that included the thin Leuer at center and Mike Dunleavy Jr. at power forward. The Bucks managed to take a 60-48 lead into the half.

ROOKIE WATCH: Leuer's big night made high-profile Timberwolves rookies Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams an afterthought. Rubio finished with six points and four assists in 27 minutes, and Williams had three points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.

NOTABLE: Love shot 15 free throw attempts in the first 10:38 of the game, making 13 of them. One came on a technical foul on Skiles, who'd seen enough of Love's parade to the line and let officials know he didn't agree. Minnesota attempted 20 free throws in the first quarter, Milwaukee attempted 20 in the game. ... Skiles and Bogut each picked up a technical foul, but Love and Rubio missed on the two free throws. ...

UP NEXT: For the Timberwolves, Friday vs. Miami, Sunday vs. Dallas, Monday vs. San Antonio. For the Bucks, Friday vs. Washington, Monday @ Denver, Tuesday @ Utah.

• Timberwolves: Miller, Webster
• Bucks: Harris, Mbah a Moute

• Timberwolves: --
• Bucks: Bogut, Skiles

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 15

• Arena: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #26 Pat Fraher, #75 Eric Dalen
• Attendance: 17352
• Duration: 2:16