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

_{Photo copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Game #60, Home Game #31: Minnesota 94, Golden State 118

Season Record: 18-42

_{Photo copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Game #37, Home Game #19: Minnesota 96, Miami 99

Season Record: 11-26

1. Don't Overthink It

_{Photo copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Game #20, Home Game #10: Minnesota 96, Utah 99

Game #21, Road Game #11: Denver 116, Minnesota 105

Season Record: 4-17

1. Confidence Game

_{Photo copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Game # 2, Home Game #2: Minnesota 85, Dallas 95

Game # 3, Road Game #1: Oklahoma City 88, Minnesota 85

Season record: 1-2

1. Untrustworthy

The Wolves had just manufactured their first loss of the season against a very ordinary Dallas Mavericks ballclub and Randy Wittman was at the postgame microphone. Rather than offer any introductory remarks, he simply said, "Questions?" Silence.

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.

Game #74, Road Game #36: Minnesota 100, Utah 117

Season Record: 19-55

 1. One-Way Jefferson

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

Season Record: 16-50

1. Pick and Roll Call

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Game #63, Home Game #33: Portland 103, Minnesota 96

Season Record: 14-49

1. When It Matters Most

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Game #57, Road Game #27: Minnesota 84, Cleveland 92

Season Record: 12-45

1. The Price of Youth

What a discouraging game.