The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Chicago Bulls 85, Minnesota Timberwolves 75

1. Steady Al and the Clanging Non-Jeffersons

Al Jefferson did what he does, dipsy-doodling his up-fakes, baseline spins, up-and-unders, floaters, baby hooks and catch-and-slams in the paint against an assortment of single and double-teams tonight at the Target Center. You know the drill: 19 points (8-15 FG) and 11 rebounds in 25:28. During the time he was on the court, the Wolves outscored the Chicago Bulls 52-48.

Don't get too excited or bummed out by anything I'm about to say. Like the rest of you, I'm itchy for the beginning of the NBA season and took great joy is sussing the action Saturday night in Mankato as the Wolves had a 35-minute intrasquad scrimmage in front of the general public. But the team has had exactly one week of practice. Their star, Al Jefferson, is recovering from a knee injury, and their most valuable off-season pickup, Mike Miller, was gimpy with a hamstring or thigh problem. I'll be more confident in my judgments when the sample size isn't so infintesimal.

^{AP Photo by Nikki Boertman}

Game #79, Road Game #39: Minnesota 102, Orlando 101

Game #80, Road Game #40, Minnesota 114, Memphis 105

Season Record: 21-59

1. Wanting It More

^{Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Game #66, Home Game #34: Los Angeles Clippers 90, Minnesota 99

Season Record: 16-50

1. Pick and Roll Call

Road Game # 2: Minnesota 93, LA Lakers 107

Road Game # 3: Minnesota 93, Sacramento 100

1. Half Empty