News 1/28

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1069361&format=text

No Garnett, no victory
Turkoglu game-winner stops shorthanded C’s

By Steve Bulpett | Monday, January 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
ORLANDO, Fla. - Less than a half-minute into the third quarter, Maurice Evans stepped on Rajon Rondo [stats]’s right ankle and the Celtics [team stats] had to watch their point guard limp into the dressing room to be retaped.

With Kevin Garnett already out because of an abdominal strain and other Celts playing with various maladies against the Magic yesterday, coach Doc Rivers had to do something. He chose comedy.cw0

“I grabbed them and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got great news for you. No practice (today) because we don’t have enough bodies. So you might as well just lay it out on the line right now,’ ” Rivers said. “They started laughing. I figured at that point you might as well break the ice, because everyone was starting to feel a little bit sorry for themselves.”

When all was said and done, the Celtics couldn’t feel too bad about a 96-93 loss to Orlando - even if it came on a well-defended 3-pointer from Hedo Turkoglu as the clock ran out.

“I don’t believe in moral victories, and we wanted to win the game - and we played well enough to win,” Rivers said. “On the last play, I was really proud. I thought we took them out of whatever they were trying to run, and then Turk turned around and made a tough shot. I can live with that.

“But I’m not voting for Turkoglu (as an All-Star reserve) anymore,” added the jocose Rivers. “I just rescinded (the vote). I’ve got to call the league and get it back.”

As they headed off to Miami tomorrow night’s game vs. the Heat, the Celtics were secure in the knowledge they did what they could without Garnett. But they should also realize they might have done even better had they decided to get out and guard Brian Cook, who killed them with three treys and 11 points in a 10-minute stretch of the third quarter.

The son of former C’s draftee Norm Cook was brilliant in his short stint, guiding the Magic to a 26-5 run that began when Rondo went out and continued even after his return.

But even with Paul Pierce [stats] struggling through a 1-for-7 second half (19 of his 24 points came in the first two quarters), the C’s responded with a 23-6 run and played on. Ray Allen overcame a 2-for-10 start to score 11 of his 17 points in the final period.

Allen’s last shot was a 3-pointer from the left corner on a Pierce feed that tied the game with 14.1 seconds left.

But the Magic would have the final say.

The Celts dug in on defense, but it didn’t matter.

“I thought to myself to not even let him catch the ball,” said Pierce of Turkoglu, “but I thought he was going to set a screen for (Carlos) Arroyo so I kind of backed off a little bit. I didn’t want to give Arroyo a straight drive.

“He just made a great shot. My hat’s off to Turkoglu. He’s a great player, man. He doesn’t get the recognition I think he deserves.” Said Turkoglu: “I really didn’t want to settle on a jumper. I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul, but they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot.”

This is what the Celts would have looked like if they hadn’t made the trade for Garnett. And if Al Jefferson [stats], Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair [stats] were hurt.

James Posey came back from three games out (sprained right index finger) to score 16 points. Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins [stats] combined for 16 points and 13 rebounds in the pivot against the 18 and 16 put up by Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

“It was a good test for us, not having your guy,” Rivers said. “We talked about it before the game. I told them I don’t feel sorry for us. It happens and you’ve got to buck up, and I thought our guys did. I thought Leon Powe and Perk and Posey - they all came in and did their jobs, so I was very happy with that.”

Just not the outcome.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1069467&format=text

Ab-solutely a safe move
KG not happy to rest

By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Monday, January 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
ORLANDO, Fla. - Kevin Garnett could have played through his abdominal strain yesterday, according to coach Doc Rivers, but the Celtics [team stats] couldn’t stomach the thought of having the problem become more serious.

Either that, or, it was suggested, Rivers is pulling another fast one.

“Yeah, I’m tanking games again,” Rivers said with a laugh. “We’re trying to get a draft pick. We’re going for that 30th pick.”

Garnett wasn’t in a jovial mood before, during or after missing his first game of the season. He chose not to speak with reporters and was polite, but purposeful as he walked through the dressing room and headed for the bus. Not playing wasn’t his choice.

“He (complains) about everything when it comes to playing time,” said Rivers. “He wants to play 48 minutes. That’s why you love him. And he wasn’t happy about it, but that’s all right. That’s what a coach does sometimes. You’ve got to make a decision and upset your guy sometimes. That’s fine.

“He probably could play, but that muscle in the stomach is not anything you play with. We know from the history of other players who have had it that if you screw around with it then he can actually get injured and be out for a while. We’re lucky that he caught it early enough. He may play Tuesday. I doubt that, but he may. I just think we just go day to day with it. It’s just not worth taking a chance.”

After relenting and letting Garnett back into Friday’s win over Minnesota, Rivers didn’t want to listen to his star.

“No, you absolutely can’t,” he said. “I learned that last game. A lot of times you can, but I think Kevin goes with his emotion - as far as, I can play. He was not moving great, yet he can play. So it didn’t take a lot (yesterday) to sit him, but he was upset by it.

“I’d already told him, and getting on the bus he says, ‘Hey, I’m feeling great, so when I go out and shoot, if I feel great that means I can play, right?’ So even though I told him he wasn’t, he still hasn’t heard that yet in his own mind . . . which is good. Who would you rather have, a guy who you have to talk out of it or a guy you have to talk into playing?”

Paul Pierce [stats] understands how his teammate feels.

“The guy’s frustrated,” Pierce said. “He wants to be out there and help his team, but we want to get the big guy healthy because that’s what’s most important right now - just making sure that guys are 100 percent. We’ve got long-term goals, and the key is just to get healthy right now.”

Garnett chose to stay in the locker room during the game.

“He didn’t want (to be) a distraction, and I thought it was the right choice,” Rivers said.

Brian Scalabrine got the start and had a point and a rebound in 22 minutes. He was coming off the flu.

Patchwork of pain

Tony Allen left the arena wearing a patch over his right eye. He looked like he’d lost to Roy Jones Jr. instead of the Magic. He arrived with a scratched right eye and got hit their twice more yesterday.

“We had a contact protecting an abrasion, and we numbed it up today,” Allen said. “But it got scratched back-to-back.” . . .

Rajon Rondo [stats] is getting over his back and hamstring problems, but now the point guard has to deal with a right ankle sprain after Maurice Evans stepped on him.

“I’m tired of getting hurt, but that’s how this business is,” Rondo said. . . .

The injuries give the Celts a free day in Miami before tomorrow night’s meeting with the Heat.

“It’s the only reason,” Rivers said. “I think we need a practice desperately. We’ve gone a stretch (without one), but, hell, just give them some rest. They’re going to South Beach. Oh, goodness.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1069466&format=text

Stoudamire’s no sure thing
Sources: C’s eye Cassell

By Steve Bulpett | Monday, January 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Celtics [team stats] appear to be taking their time on Damon Stoudamire. At their current rate, the Celts may run out of time.

Having been bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies, the veteran point guard will clear waivers on Wednesday, which is a formality, as he has no contract to pick up.

According to league sources, the Celts are checking out other possibilities and it’s believed they may have interest in another player, thought to be Sam Cassell of the Los Angeles Clippers. That matter would require time to work out, but the C’s will have to move quickly on Stoudamire if they want him.

Aaron Goodwin, Stoudamire’s representative, plans to have his client make a quick transition to his new club. Goodwin acknowledged his client has interest in the Celtics, as well as San Antonio, Phoenix, Toronto and Denver, but time is of the essence.

“We want to have him to be able to join his new team and be ready to go the following day,” Goodwin said. “This isn’t about money or anything. Damon knows he’s going to be getting the veteran minimum. He just wants a chance to play and an opportunity to go for a championship. That’s all that’s important to him at this point. The clubs we’re talking about all afford him that opportunity, so we’re confident he’ll be in a good situation by Thursday.”

Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge had no comment, other than to say he likes his roster. But others insist the Celts are looking at the marketplace and would like some help or insurance at the point.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/01/28/without_the_ticket_celtics_punched_out?mode=PF

Without the Ticket, Celtics punched out
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | January 28, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. - Often during Celtics games forward James Posey yells from the bench, "We got Tickets," in tribute to forward Kevin Garnett after he makes a big play.

Yesterday, for the first time this season, Posey couldn't yell anything about "The Big Ticket," as Garnett missed the game with an abdominal strain. But the Magic still needed a 25-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer by Hedo Turkoglu to defeat the battered Celtics, 96-93, at a sold-out Amway Center.

"We had tickets, but we didn't have 'Tickets,' " Posey said.

Said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy: "They didn't have Kevin Garnett and we hit a miracle shot at the end. It was enough to win."

Garnett was hurt in the fourth quarter of a win over Minnesota Friday night but returned for the end of the game. While he still had hopes of suiting up during the bus ride to the arena yesterday, he was told firmly by coach Doc Rivers that he would not play.

"I knew we were going to come out and play hard," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who had a team-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. "This group has a lot of resiliency regardless of who is on the court. There are no moral victories. But this was a game we could have seen ourselves winning regardless to who was on the court."

The Celtics are dealing with their worst string of injuries this season.

Forward Brian Scalabrine had 1 point and one rebound in 22 minutes in place of Garnett in the starting lineup after missing Friday night's game with the flu. Point guard Rajon Rondo (15 points, 6 steals) went to the locker room for a bit early in the third quarter to have his slightly sprained right ankle taped.

Posey had 16 points, four 3-pointers, and six rebounds in his return after missing three games with a sprained finger on his right hand. Reserve guard Tony Allen (2 points) played with a right eye scratch suffered against Minnesota and left the arena with a Band-Aid over the eye. Center Scot Pollard is out indefinitely with a right ankle sprain.

"We are banged up right now," Rivers said. "When Rajon went down, I grabbed them and said, 'Hey, I got great news for you. No practice Monday because we don't have enough bodies, so you might as well lay it on the line.' They started laughing.

"I figured at that point we might as well break the ice. Everyone was feeling a little bit sorry for themselves."

The Celtics led, 46-43, at halftime after receiving 19 points and six rebounds from Pierce. Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard had 10 of his 18 points, 10 of his 16 rebounds, and 2 of his 5 blocks in the first half.

Orlando shot 60 percent from the field and nailed five 3-pointers in the third quarter to outscore Boston, 32-19, to take a 75-65 lead. Magic reserve forward Brian Cook scored 11 points and hit three treys in the quarter.

Boston opened the fourth with a 16-7 run finalized by two Posey free throws to trim its deficit to 82-81 with 5:49 remaining. The Magic responded with a 9-3 run capped by a 20-foot jumper by Turkoglu (a game-high 27 points) to take a 91-84 lead with 2:41 left.

Ray Allen's lay-in sliced Boston's deficit to 91-88 with 1:13 left but two free throws by Turkoglu gave Orlando a 93-88 advantage with 58.9 seconds remaining. Rondo's lay-in with 43.9 seconds left got the Celtics within 93-90, and after Rondo's athletic steal of a pass from Orlando guard Carlos Arroyo, Ray Allen nailed a 3-pointer in front of the Magic bench to tie the game at 93 with 14.1 seconds remaining.

"I kept telling them to hang in there, hang in there, cut the lead, and when it got closer and you're on the road the home team gets tight, not the road team," Rivers said. "I just kept telling them, 'One basket at a time.' "

Howard and Rashard Lewis (15 points) are viewed as the Magic's stars. But with 24 points at that point, the Magic turned to Turkoglu. He responded by nailing a deep 3-pointer over Pierce's outstretched hand.

"I didn't want to settle on a jumper," Turkoglu said. "I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul. But they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot.

"It was a tough shot to take over Pierce and it was from long range. I'm glad it was right there today and I was able to make it."

Rivers, the Eastern Conference All-Star coach, joked that he was going to call the NBA to take back his All-Star vote for Turkoglu.

"We played well enough to win," Rivers said. "A guy makes a fadeaway from 4 feet behind the [3-point line] on the last play. I was really proud. I thought we took them out of what they were trying to run. Turk turned around and made a tough shot. I can live with that."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/01/28/garnett_cant_stomach_sitting_on_sideline?mode=PF

Garnett can't stomach sitting on sideline
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | January 28, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. - Forward Kevin Garnett tried to convince coach Doc Rivers on the bus ride from the team hotel that he might be healthy enough to play against Orlando yesterday. Rivers, however, wouldn't budge.

Garnett missed his first game of the season with an abdominal strain. Garnett missed part of the fourth quarter of the Celtics' win over the Timberwolves Friday night with the injury, which he said has been bothering him recently.

"That muscle in the stomach is not anything you play with," Rivers said. "From the history of other players that have had it, he can actually be injured and be out for a while. We're lucky that he caught it early enough.

"He may play Tuesday [at Miami], may. But I doubt that. I just think we go day to day with it. It's just not worth taking a chance."

Garnett stayed in the locker room during the game and declined to answer questions after the game.

"I'll talk to ya'll later . . . " Garnett said. "I'm feeling good."

Rivers said Garnett is such a competitor it can't be left up to him whether he should play when injured.

He also said Garnett didn't take the news that he wasn't playing easily.

"He wants to play for 48 minutes," Rivers said. "That's why you love him.

"He wasn't happy about it. It's all right. That's what the coach does. You have to make a decision and upset your guys sometimes. But that's fine."

Stoudamire watch

The Celtics likely will have interest in Grizzlies point guard Damon Stoudamire if he clears waivers, as expected, Wednesday. His buyout papers are expected to be signed today. The Suns and Raptors also are expected to have interest.

Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he doesn't comment on free agents. "I understand the [veteran point guard] speculation," Ainge said. "We're going to be in the playoffs. We have a young point guard [Rajon Rondo]. But I don't want to just have a veteran point guard. We need the right veteran point guard. I'm happy with our roster."

Stoudamire said yesterday he plans on working out in Houston. Rondo said it would benefit him to have a veteran backup to turn to for advice. Stoudamire has said he'd have no problem backing up Rondo.

"I know his capabilities from playing against him the last two years," Rondo said. "He's a smart point guard, he's been around the league a long time, and he knows a lot about the game. He can shoot the ball and he knows how to run an offense. So [it would] be another bonus for me as an individual learning more about the game."

Speculation persists that the Celtics also have interest in Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, a former teammate of Garnett's. The only way the Celtics likely could acquire Cassell is if the veteran is bought out of his contract, since Boston doesn't appear to have the right pieces to make a trade.

An NBA source said the Clippers would consider buying out Cassell if he worked out a reasonable agreement, but nothing is imminent.

Cassell is making $6.1 million this season.

Scalabrine back

Brian Scalabrine started in place of Garnett and had 1 point; he'd missed Friday night's game with a "24-hour flu." He said he went to a Boston hospital and received 3 liters of intravenous fluid because he was dehydrated. He also stayed in bed Saturday until it was time for him to catch the Celtics' charter flight to Orlando. "I couldn't hold anything down," Scalabrine said. "I couldn't hold down a sip of water." . . . Guard Tony Allen's scratched right eye was aggravated when he was hit by Orlando's Maurice Evans. Allen's eye was scratched Friday by Gerald Green. "It's real painful," said Allen. "My eye keeps tearing. I have numbness. I have eyedrops in it." . . . Tommy Heinsohn, taking into account that ABC was broadcasting yesterday's game, decided not to make the Florida trip.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/SPORTS/801280360/-1/SPORTS

FREE THROWS: Allen feeling the most pinch
January 28, 2008 6:00 AM
Without a doubt, of the three All-Stars who were thrust together to create this new version of the Boston Celtics, Ray Allen has had to make the biggest adjustment to his game.

Kevin Garnett has been the same player he was in Minnesota for his entire career — a low-post presence who can score from anywhere on the floor, defend any of the five positions, rebound with the best of them and bring an unmatched intensity to every game. Paul Pierce continues to be the scorer he's always been, driving to the hoop or spotting up for jumpers.

But Allen, who was the leading man for the Bucks and the Sonics in his previous NBA stops, is the one who has had to defer the shots and almost sink back into a role position here in Boston. The 32-year-old veteran of 11 seasons should surely thrive in that role of pure shooter, an option on the outside when the defense caves in on Garnett or Pierce in the paint.

But what happens when the pure shooter struggles with his shooting?

That's what we've seen from Allen in the past two games, and something that's been of issue throughout the season. He's been dealing with a pinched nerve in his neck, but does that account for his season shooting percentage (.418) being more than 25 points off his career mark of .445? Or is it because, at the halfway point of the season, he's on par for the least amount of shot attempts he's ever had when playing 55 games or more?

Simply put, is deferring to the other Big Two hurting Allen's game?

In Sunday's loss to Orlando, he finished the game with 17 points, coming on 7-for-18 shooting. Not bad numbers, but they came as the result of hitting three big free throws in the fourth quarter. Without them, he managed just five points, mostly coming off dunks in an attempt to get his offense going.

Before that, in Friday night's win over Minnesota, Allen went 4-for-18 from the field, including 2-for-9 from three-point land, to finish with 12 points. It was an atrocious shooting night for a player who hangs his hat on his sweet-stroking jumper.

But in both games, Allen hit key three-pointers late in the game to keep the Celtics in it. His big-shot value is indicative that, no matter how much he's struggling, his teammates will never hesitate to get him the ball in do-or-die situations.

Even though he missed a last-second 8-footer to tie the game against the Raptors, Allen has already hit two game-winning buzzer shots this season. And that's more than either Garnett or Pierce can say.



BEST FRIENDS, BETTER RIVALS
Perhaps lost in the Friday night shuffle of KG battling Minnesota or Al Jefferson returning to Boston was the first taste of a rivalry between Jefferson and his best friend in the NBA, Celtics center Kendrick Perkins.

"I think I was really over-gassed about (the game), playing against Al," Perkins said. "On the court, I think we are rivals. You get us between them lines, we are going to compete, but after the game it's all love."

Perkins, who frequently went up against "Big Al" in practice when they were teammates, knows his game perhaps better than anyone in the league.

"You can tell he's been working on other stuff," Perkins said. "You know Al's been balling, you know if they have a winning record, he might be in the All-Star Game. I just love his game, and I just went out there and tried to make it tough for him."

Jefferson, for his part, is impressed with how Perkins has benefitted from playing alongside Pierce, Garnett and Allen.

"One thing about Perk is, he finds himself in the right position every time," Jefferson said. "That's why he is so good at what he does, and it hurt us (Friday night). The reason they won the game was him, my hat is off to him."



BUYOUT BARGAINS?
Damon Stoudamire's buyout from the Memphis Grizzlies will become official today, and the 34-year-old point guard is expected to clear the 48-hour waiver period before signing with a new team.

While the Suns and Stoudamire's original NBA franchise, the Raptors, have each expressed interest, the Celtics may have jumped to the head of the pack after Rajon Rondo's ankle sprain during Sunday afternoon's loss at Orlando. While Rondo did return to the game and there's no indication he'll miss significant time with the injury, it's just another example of how badly the Celts need a veteran backup point guard.

Also, with Sam Cassell possibly stuck in Los Angeles considering the tumultuous happenings in Clipperland this past week, there will be few point guards on the block before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. Even so, the Celtics are light on trade chips (Tony Allen or possibly the much-improved Leon Powe?) that can bring in anyone significant. So offering the veteran minimum to a player who just agreed to a big-money buyout might be their only chance at shoring up the position with proven talent.

Tim Weisberg covers the NBA for The Standard-Times. Contact him at [e-mail]



HOT
THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Perhaps inspired by the NHL's outdoor game, the Phoenix Suns will play a preseason contest next season at the Indian Wells (Calif.) Tennis Garden.

D-LEAGUE UP NORTH

According to The Boston Globe, Manchester, N.H., and Portland, Maine, are competing for an NBA Developmental League affiliate of the Celtics. The Portland team is being put together by TD Banknorth chairman Bill Ryan son Bill Jr., former Celts assistant coach and executive Jon Jennings and former player and coach K.C. Jones.

BREAK UP THE HORNETS

The New Orleans Hornets now have the best record in the Western Conference at 31-12, on an eight-game winning streak.

HOT

SPYGATE, PART 2

Former Knicks coach and current Sixers something-or-other (he's officially a consultant) Larry Brown accused the Knicks organization of spying on him in a recent article with Philadelphia Magazine. He also said he was an outcast in New York, outright ignored by his co-workers.

FRONT OFFICE FEUDING

Clippers owner Donald Sterling and head coach Mike Dunleavy were at odds this week, as Sterling threatened to fire either Dunleavy or GM Elgin Baylor if the Clips don't start winning. The coach's response? "Be my guest," he told Sterling. "It would be the biggest mistake you ever made."

NO FREEBIES

USC freshman O.J. Mayo may have violated an NCAA rule by accepting free Nuggets-Lakers tickets, although the NCAA is still investigating. It's illegal for college players to accept "free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletic contests from professional sports organizations," but Mayo may be saved by the fact that they were given solely by Denver star Carmelo Anthony, a personal friend.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_8095900?nclick_check=1

Minnesota Timberwolves' Al Jefferson cagey with Kevin Garnett
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 01/27/2008 11:48:13 PM CST


Looks as if Al Jefferson is just as quick with his wit as he is on his feet.

When Kevin Garnett emphatically reminded Jefferson of his all-star selections - "11 years! 11 years!" - Jefferson replied with something that Garnett couldn't top.

"I told him we both have one thing in common - no championships," Jefferson said. "He didn't like that too much."

Garnett and Jefferson were hit with technical fouls for their heated trash talking early in the third quarter of Friday night's game.

Garnett and the Celtics trailed much of the game but rallied late in the fourth quarter for an 87-86 victory at home.

Immediately after Garnett stole the ball to preserve the win as time expired, he celebrated on the court as if the Celtics had just won a playoff game. It was an interesting sight, Garnett holding up the front of his jersey.

The Celtics, after all, have the NBA's best record. The Wolves entered that game with the league's worst record.

Garnett was traded last summer from Minnesota to Boston in exchange for Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, two first-round picks and cash considerations.

Wolves forward Mark Madsen, who played with Garnett the longest of any current Minnesota player, said he didn't take offense to Garnett's celebration. He said Garnett is an emotional player who wears his emotions on his sleeve.

Said Green: "It's a thing where I think it was a more personal game. I think everybody wanted to prove


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Advertisement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
to each other that they're better than each other. I thought we should have won, but we did get the loss. I think if we'd have won, we'd have had our jerseys up, too, just like that."
Just business: Green said the reason he wants to be traded is simply a matter of business. He averaged only 12 minutes in 21 games through the first half of the season, leaving him with questions about his future with the team.

The Wolves didn't pick up his contract option for next season, so he will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

"I love this team," Green said Sunday. "I love this organization and the nucleus they have here. I'm just not sure if I'm part of their long-term future. I just want to go somewhere where I think my future is brighter."

Green confirmed that his agent, Byron Irvin, asked the organization early this month to trade him. Through a team spokesman, Kevin McHale, the Wolves' vice president of basketball operations, declined to comment Sunday.

Green, who turned 22 on Saturday, said he's not sure whether he will be moved or not before the NBA's Feb. 21 trade deadline.

"This is still my team," Green said. "I'm still a Minnesota Timberwolf. I'm still going to work hard and focus on what I have to do here."

Briefly: Wolves coach Randy Wittman defended his decision to have rookie Corey Brewer inbound the ball with 23.2 seconds remaining Friday night with Minnesota clinging to a one-point lead.

Brewer was called for a five-second violation, and Boston went on to win.

"Corey hasn't given me any reason not to believe he's ready," Wittman said. "It was just an unfortunate situation that happened. I don't think any less of Corey having the ball."

Asked if he would hesitate to do it again, Wittman said: "We wanted to have our best free-throw shooters on the floor because they were going to foul right away. That was my thought process with the five guys we were going to have on the floor."