Bench Boosts Wolves Past Hornets

There is a memento displayed in just about every alleyway and hallway at Target Center: “48 minutes, not one minute less.”

Finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves played those 48 minutes in their first road win, a 103-94 victory over the New Orleans Hornets behind Marco Jaric’s 21-point, six-assist, two-steal performance. The Wolves avenged a 100-82 Nov. 17 home loss to the Hornets.

Having blown a 21-point halftime lead and 16-point third-quarter advantage Saturday against Atlanta, this time the Wolves showed poise down the stretch against a streaking New Orleans team in Minnesota's first return to New Orleans Arena since Hurrican Katrina devastated the city in August, 2005.

The Wolves led by 20 with nine minutes remaining, significant because Minnesota didn’t squander the 19-point advantage that they had amassed by halftime. The Wolves outplayed New Orleans from the tip, and didn’t look back.

“We play to win," said head coach Randy Wittman. "We’ve been in every game, and we just haven’t found ways to win. I told these guys yesterday after we came in after the tough loss at home, that I believe in them. They’re showing me that they can play with teams in this league. There’s no doubt in mind, I truly believe in them.”

Ironically, in both of the Wolves' wins (the other coming Nov. 14, a home win over Sacramento), Al Jefferson did not have a double-double. On Wednesday, Jefferson contributed 14 points and a season-low five boards. Not to worry, though: Greg Buckner – yes, a 6-4 backup guard – crashed the glass for a team-high nine rebounds. The depth of the Wolves bench was the storyline on Monday.

Sebastain Telfair initially saw minutes off the bench to relieve Jaric, but coach Randy Wittman elected to move Jaric to the off-guard with Telfair at the point because both were producing. Especially in the second half, both guards successfully countered any comeback threat by working off each other and matching Chris Paul (who finished with 31 points) buckets with points of their own. Telfair had a season-high 20 points, and dished out eight assists.

“I’m just happy we got a 'W' tonight," said Jaric when asked about his individual play. "That was the most important thing. I get in different rotations and sometimes I’m playing the two guard, and when you play the two, you get to shoot more.”

The Hornets did claw within seven with 1:56 remaining on a Peja Stojakovic three and a David West tip-in, but Antoine Walker countered with a key putback basket following his own miss, putting the Wolves up for good with 1:04 to go. Walker banged his chest, displaying his veteran leadership and will to close the door on the Wolves’ second win.

The stats tell a telling tale: Minnesota’s bench outscored New Orleans’ 54-25; the Wolves held the Hornets to 41.9 percent shooting, while shooting 52 percent themselves; and the Wolves held a slight rebounding edge, 35-34.

And, the Wolves’ bench outscored their starters 54-49. On any given night, someone else is capable of being the hero, the playmaker, the spark.

“We were ready to respond from last night," said Jaric. "We don’t have a superstar on this team. We have 10 players that can play every night, and every night someone is going to come up big. Everybody stayed ready and they came through for us.”