From the Associated Press:
Kevin Love had 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds Monday night in his debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves at the NBA Summer League.
Love’s team was routed by the Dallas Mavericks, 90-74.
The fifth overall selection in last month’s draft, Love started slowly
and committed four fouls — the same number of points he scored — in
the first quarter before settling in.
"I had to get the jitters out," Love said. "I was shaking out there a
little bit because it hadn’t sunk in that I was a NBA player."
From Ben Couch/NBA.com:
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ rookie big man seemed cautious, defending well, but playing offense so tentatively it seemed his only task was setting screens. An aggressive stretch late in the second earned him a few trips to the line, but he entered the locker room with eight points (2-of-5 FGs, 4-of-7 FTs) and five rebounds.
Then the third quarter started…
The Mavs scored 29 of the next 33 points after the Wolves held that
brief 10-4 lead. Love played better as the game progressed, matching
his eight first-half points with that many in the third quarter alone
and finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, five turnovers and six
fouls. He shot 7 for 13 from the field and 4 for 7 from the line.
brief 10-4 lead. Love played better as the game progressed, matching
his eight first-half points with that many in the third quarter alone
and finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, five turnovers and six
fouls. He shot 7 for 13 from the field and 4 for 7 from the line.
“Kind of uncharacteristic for me,” Love said of his free-throw shooting.
His passing skills didn’t show but only a few times. Wait, though,
until he starts playing with a full lineup of real NBA players.
Somebody tell Kevin Love that in the NBA you have to move your feet. He
picked up four fouls in seven minutes and now finds himself sitting on
the bench. Before he left, he did some good things. He put the ball on
the floor, drew a foul and was awarded the basket on a goal-tending
call for his first two pro points. He also knocked down a 15-foot
jumper and passed well in the halfcourt set. On the defensive side, he
snatched a board and his first outlet pass ended up out of bounds. The
point guards are going to need time to learn to appreciate his ability
to get them the ball in stride…
picked up four fouls in seven minutes and now finds himself sitting on
the bench. Before he left, he did some good things. He put the ball on
the floor, drew a foul and was awarded the basket on a goal-tending
call for his first two pro points. He also knocked down a 15-foot
jumper and passed well in the halfcourt set. On the defensive side, he
snatched a board and his first outlet pass ended up out of bounds. The
point guards are going to need time to learn to appreciate his ability
to get them the ball in stride…
It’s a safe bet that Love is going to lead summer league in rebounds.
He attacks the glass as if his life depends on it. If the ball comes
off anywhere near him, it’s his. In the first half, he struggled from
the line, missing 3 of 7, but still finished with eight points and five
rebounds.
He attacks the glass as if his life depends on it. If the ball comes
off anywhere near him, it’s his. In the first half, he struggled from
the line, missing 3 of 7, but still finished with eight points and five
rebounds.
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site posts highlights from each quarter:
C: Chris Richard; PF: Kevin Love; SF: Corey Brewer; SG: Bryce Taylor; PG: Pooh Jeter
…It’ll tell you that the Wolves did a solid job on the glass (35-30),
but turned the ball over 24 times to just 11 assists. Corey Brewer
finished with 11 points on 5-of-18 shooting, but had seven boards,
three assists and was credited with only one of his three steals to my
eyes. Chris Richard had a solid fourth quarter and finished with seven
boards, two assists, a block and four points. Ahearn went for 17 off
the bench and Neitzel 10, though no bench player notched an assist.
but turned the ball over 24 times to just 11 assists. Corey Brewer
finished with 11 points on 5-of-18 shooting, but had seven boards,
three assists and was credited with only one of his three steals to my
eyes. Chris Richard had a solid fourth quarter and finished with seven
boards, two assists, a block and four points. Ahearn went for 17 off
the bench and Neitzel 10, though no bench player notched an assist.
From Ben Couch/NBA.com:
Corey Brewer continued to frustrate, making great moves to free himself, but being so out of control he repeatedly bricked shots at the finish — from jumper to runner to layup. His final line of 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists was undermined by four turnovers and a 5-for-18 shooting performance. I might have heard the term "Drunken Dribbler" tossed around at some point today. I’m not sayin … I’m just sayin.
“I never like losing. I’m not use to it. I don’t accept it,” said Love, after Minnesota’s 88-74 setback to Dallas.
“We just got to come out Wednesday, play our hearts out and try to come out with a win.”
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