Wolves record: 1-2
Corey Brewer scored a career-high 19 points, and Al Jefferson added 21 — though 15 of those came when he was fresh in the first quarter. After that, he appeared to wear down, and he didn’t score again until the fourth. By that time, Phoenix had taken control, even if they could never quite make it laugher.

They never led by more than 14, and the Timberwolves cut the lead to 110-105 with 3:39 left on a basket by Ryan Hollins. Hill, however, followed with a three-pointer to keep Minnesota at arm’s length.


Jonny Flynn, who played only two minutes, 36 seconds in first quarter, finished with 11 points.
Wolves coach Kurt Rambis calculates it will take Jefferson a full year from his February surgery –not just three games — for him to return fully from that injury.

“He’s still struggling with his conditioning, his timing, his rhythm,” Rambis said. “He’s adjusting to his weight loss [30 pounds since last season], the new style of ball we’re playing.

“Right now, he’s impatient, putting a lot of pressure on himself to get back to playing the way he knows he can play and we know he can play, too.”

Rambis switched up and went with Ryan Gomes at the small forward, with Oleksiy Pecherov at the “four” spot.

Gomes, who had been listed as the starting power forward, exploded for 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting.

Pecherov, who had been coming off the bench, had eight points and seven boards.

More experiments are sure to follow.

“We have to find guys who can fit,” said Rambis, who is introducing the triangle offense as part of the Wolves’ approach.