Al Jefferson - Game Track

We tracked Wolves big man Al Jefferson throughout the course of Friday’s season and home-opener versus the Nuggets. Offense, defense, with the ball, without the ball – everything you wanted to know about Big Al in game one is right here.

First Quarter

- Defensively, Jefferson is matched up with Marcus Camby. No surprise that Nuggets coach George Karl throws the NBA’s best defender on Jefferson. On the first two possessions, Big Al did not allow Camby to get comfortable on the block and forced him to make a tough 15-footer.

- Kenyon Martin has picked up Jefferson on the offensive end, and the Nuggets have felt obligated to throw a double-team at Big Al every time he touched the ball. Jefferson then found Ryan Gomes underneath to put the Wolves ahead 6-4.

- The Wolves want to run tonight. After a defensive rebound from Jefferson, he found Gomes in transition, who found McCants for an easy two-handed jam to make the score 10-4.

- Again, Jefferson passed out of a double-team, finding Gomes for a trey. 15-6, Wolves.

- It looks like Jefferson is more than comfortable with his back to the basket or facing it. He just hit an eight-foot jumper over Camby.

- Allen Iverson wants to penetrate into the lane every time he touches the ball, per usual, but Jefferson is playing great weakside defense. A.I. isn’t getting many good looks at the hoop, and each has often had to pass out of Jefferson’s pressure.

- With 2:32 left in the quarter, the Wolves are up 25-16, in large part due to the play of Big Al. Although he only has two points, Jefferson has grabbed five boards and provided several outlet passes following defensive rebounds which have led to easy baskets in transition.

- Jefferson just checked out of the first quarter with :53 seconds to play to a large ovation from his new supporters.

Second Quarter

- Big Al has begun the second session on the bench. The Wolves are going relatively small with a lineup of Buckner, Jaric, Brewer, Walker and Smith.

- Jefferson replaces Smith at the 8:05 mark. The Wolves need a spark if they are going to keep the Nuggets on their heels. Denver has climbed back into it and now only trail by four (33-29).

- And they get a spark after Jefferson hits a jump hook after solid ball movement and rotation.

- The Wolves have managed to isolate Jefferson on the left block. After getting fouled on a five-footer, he just nailed two free throws to put the Wolves up by eight once again.

- The Nuggets now have put Martin on Jefferson, hoping that Martin’s quickness can prevent Al from getting to the low block. Fortunately for Wolves fans, Jefferson has drawn a double-team each and every time, and found open teammates to nail uncontested jumpers.

- The Target Center just “saw what he could do.” Following a Telfair miss in the lane, Jefferson came out of nowhere for a two-handed finish.

- Wolves 52-49 at the intermission. Big Al is well on his way to a double-double with eight points, nine rebounds and a pair of assists.

Third Quarter

- To start the third, the Nuggets are trading baskets with the Wolves. However, the Wolves’ looks are coming as a result of well-designed offense sets. Again, Jefferson drew a double team in the low post … Two passes later and Brewer hit an open trey.

- Jefferson is really letting the game come to him. If he’s doubled, he passes out of it every time. If he happens to be guarded man-to-man on the low block, he either faces up or capitalizes on a turnaround jumper. Big Al just grabbed an offensive rebound and nailed an eight-footer. Minnesota’s newest star has his first double-double (10 points, 12 boards). Better yet, the Wolves have an eight-point lead with 5:06 to play in the third.

- Defensively, Jefferson has kept Camby and Martin in check. Camby only has eight points, and Martin has six.

- If one possession could get Wolves fans excited and confident for another NBA season, I just saw it. Big Al just caught the ball on the right side of the hoop 10 feet from the hoop, shot faked Camby to get the defending Defensive Player of the Year team member five feet in the air, then threw down a tomahawk slam. Wow.

- Your third quarter score: 77-74 Wolves. Jefferson matched his first half totals with 16 points, 12 rebounds and also has three assists. Of course, the box score doesn’t say how many times Big Al’s been doubled and passed successfully out of it leading to easy scores.

Fourth Quarter

- Jefferson is on the bench to get a breather to start the third quarter, but you have to think that he’ll be in the game soon after the Nuggets have tied it at 79.

- There he is. Al checking in with 6:40 to go in regulation, down by two.

- Following a Reggie Wilks jumper, the Wolves are down by four with 6:00 to play. Jefferson is working his tail off, keeping Camby out of the paint, but the Nuggets are on an 8-0 run in the final quarter, and the Denver defense is forcing Jefferson outside of the paint.

- Down the stretch, Big Al was respected by Denver. The triple team even came twice, a sign that even the finest of teams will have to respect the Wolves’ big man.

- The final score 99-91 Nuggets, Big Al was impressive in his first regular season game at Target Center. 16 points, 13 boards, three assists. Even more impressive was the way in which he grabbed the attention of Camby and Martin down low, and the way Jefferson either maneuvered his way into the paint or found open teammates. Furthermore, Camby is probably the most difficult matchup for Jefferson in the entire NBA. If Friday night’s opener was any indication, Minnesota’s newest member is something to watch.