Exhibition: 7:30 tonight at Chicago • No TV (1130-AM)
Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman has one goal heading into tonight’s exhibition game at Chicago.
In fact, it occupies the top three spots on his list.
“Transition defense. That’s what I’m looking for,” he said Monday. “That’s my No. 1 thing, the No. 2 thing, and No. 3 thing is our bigs running back in transition.”
Wittman said he had no additional information on a New York Daily News report that guard Sebastian Telfair would be suspended by the NBA for at least the first two games of the regular season.
Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press on Sebastian Telfair:
Singled out by Wittman as one of the most impressive players during training camp, the fifth-year guard has carried that over into exhibition play, even through an ugly loss like Friday’s…
Combined with his physical skills, that work ethic should ensure Telfair a regular spot in a Wolves rotation that vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale has said could feature eight or nine players playing 20-plus minutes per game.
In addition to the guard spots, Wittman said he would use the five remaining exhibition games to get rookie forward Kevin Love and center Al Jefferson more playing time together and get a look at Ryan Gomes at small and power forward.
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Mike Miller:
He was acquired with Kevin Love on draft night in an eight-player trade with Memphis because the threat of his deft shooting should open more space for teammate Al Jefferson to work down low.
For now, Miller, 28, has used his presence to create opportunities for others rather than himself. He had seven assists in his first preseason game and five assists and seven rebounds in his second before Randy Wittman limited him to nine minutes Friday in Denver while the Wolves coach evaluated other players.
Miller injured his ankle midway through Monday’s practice. X-rays were negative and his condition will be re-evaluated before the Wolves play the Bulls tonight at United Center.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is a member of the NBA ownership group fast cultivating an association with the league in China. Former Wolves president Tim Leiweke, president of the AEG sports entertainment firm in Los Angeles, has become involved in sports arena development in China.
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