Preseason record: 1-0

Box Score

 

Charles F. Gardner/Journal Sentinel recap

 

1st NBA game was unbelievable! Even if it was preseason, it was just amazing to know I finally made it. That’s def one of my biggest moments

 

Kevin Love had 17 points and Minnesota made a whopping 50 of 56 free throws to beat Milwaukee 117-103 on Sunday night, making a winner out of coach Kurt Rambis in his preseason debut.

“It’s about what I expected,” Rambis said. “We did a lot of good things, and we did a lot of poor things. We had way too many turnovers, and we forced the action too much, but I’m asking these players to expand their games. They’re doing things they’ve never done, and that leads to turnovers.”

The game was played with replacement officials, who called 73 fouls that resulted in 94 free throws total. The Bucks were 26 of 38.

 

Al Jefferson showed no signs of despair by scoring 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting in 16 minutes of court time. After suffering a season-ending knee injury last February, Jefferson returned to the floor in his first official game. Big Al was up to all his old tricks with mid-range jumpers and the patent jump hook in the paint. Fans should feel confident in the Wolves’ star center after he played a bulk of the first half, never expressing pain in the surgically repaired knee.

“It was good, my lungs are a little suspect out there,” Jefferson said. “My knee was good, I could have played the second half but they wanted to be more safe than sorry.”

 

Flynn was in good measure responsible for the other part. He missed all five shots he attempted but reached the free-throw line 15 times and made 14 — all of his points — in his debut.

“Overall, I give myself a good grade,” said Flynn, who also had seven assists and three turnovers. “With Al Jefferson and Kevin Love out there, there’s a lot of room for a guy like me to get to the basket.”

For one night only, Jennings — matched up mostly against Wolves guard Ramon Sessions when both teams went to their benches — appeared quicker, rangier and less disciplined with a 14-point, five-assist, two-turnover performance, at least compared to his summer-workout partner and newfound friend.