In sports, however, athletes can tolerate pain a lot easier after a win. Jefferson was in that mode Saturday night after the Wolves extended their winning streak to four games with an impressive 109-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in front of 14,159 at Target Center.
Jefferson’s performance — scoring 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter — overshadowed the milestone of the Wolves’ first four-game winning streak in more than a year. Jefferson had a coming-out party of sorts that generated a fun night for everybody except the Grizzlies.
“I felt like the old Al Jefferson tonight,” he said. “That energy I had came out of nowhere.”
Ramon Sessions had nine of his 19 points in the third, too, playing well enough that rookie starter Jonny Flynn sat on the bench for nearly the last 20 minutes of the game.
Kevin Love returned from a scary injury to knock down the sealing 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes left to give Minnesota a 104-99 lead. Love whacked his chest a couple of times on the way back to the other end, and Flynn leaped into his arms in a bear hug in celebration.
Jefferson was the star of the show, though, pump-faking newly minted All-Star Zach Randolph into the air and dribbling right for a baseline jumper that cut the Memphis lead to 95-94 at the 3:48 mark to end his run of 12 straight points.
Here’s another good sign: Jonny Flynn’s savvy and selflessness. The rookie point guard sat down four minutes into the second half, and Sessions proceeded to go on a 15-point, four-assist spree. Rambis stayed with the backup until he appeared winded midway through the fourth quarter, when he signaled for Flynn to return.
Flynn talked him out of it. “He came into the coaches’ huddle and said, ‘No, no, Coach, he’s playing well,'” Rambis said. “That shows growth and maturity.”
“They’re starting to build confidence, they’re starting to believe in themselves, they’re playing together better, and so it’s a really good blossoming aspect for me to see as a coach. I’m enjoying watching them perform out there. And they care. They care about each other,” Rambis said.
The Wolves practice on Sunday and Monday before heading out to Philadelphia for the final matchup of the year against the Sixers.
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