Wolves record: 1-0
“Celebrities” at the Target Center for the season opener:
The Beach Boys’ Mike Love (Kevin Love’s uncle)
Khloe Kardashian (for reference, click here)
Minnesota rookie Kevin Love made an impressive debut with 12 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes and Al Jefferson had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Timberwolves to a 98-96 victory over the rebuilding Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
The Minnesota Timberwolves began their 20th season with a bang Wednesday night. New uniforms, new and updated logos, a new floor inside the Target Center and a 98-96 win over the Sacramento Kings start the season off on the right foot. In celebration of the 20-year milestone, the Wolves updated their look while pausing to reflect on their history with a video prior to tip off, giving reminders of past faces such Pooh Richardson, Tom Gugliotta and, of course, Kevin Garnett.
PG Randy Foye, SG Mike Miller, C Al Jefferson, SF Corey Brewer and PF Ryan Gomes.
Not a single moment from Wednesday’s game likely will end up in a future anniversary celebration, unless it’s footage of rookie Kevin Love’s 181/2-minute pro debut on a night when the Wolves led by eight points or more eight times and couldn’t close the deal until John Salmons’ putback basket missed just before the buzzer.
Still, the victory thrust the Wolves someplace they never approached last season: above .500.

“Honest, this is the first time in my career I think I’ve won the first game,” said Wolves star Al Jefferson, who spent his first three seasons with Boston.

The Wolves would have made their night easier if they hadn’t missed as many free throws –11 — as they made.
Wittman was equally happy with the play of Love, who didn’t start but finished one rebound short of a double-double in his NBA regular-season debut.
The former UCLA center played a little more than 18 1/2 minutes, making 5 of 8 shots and getting his hands on countless balls.
“That’s who Kevin is,” Wittman said. “Kevin does a little bit of everything. I thought he rebounded excellent tonight.”
Excellent also describes Jefferson, who scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half.
From the Star Tribune:
Kevin Love 12 pts., 9 reb, 2 assts
Rookie came within one rebound of becoming the third Timberwolf to get a double-double in his team debut. Al Jefferson and Tom Gugliotta are the other two.

From the Star Tribune:
MVP    Corey Brewer, Wolves
Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Rashad McCants all are worthy, but Brewer and Rodney Carney supplied the defense that limited Kevin Martin to a 5-for-19 shooting night after Martin torched them all last season.
Click here for a list of the leading scorers in each of the Timberwolves opening games.