Yes, the Wizards were focusing on Jefferson, but 36 points from anybody
at anytime is worth a closer look, eh? Vexing as it is to have Smith
duplicate Jefferson’s power forward slot, let’s dwell instead on what
fabulous hands the guy has for such a beefy build… 
 
 
Ryan Gomes is a third-year forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves who
is still finding his way in the NBA, but he has reached superstar
status in the minds of those who are helping to spread the word about
sudden cardiac arrest.
 
When the Timberwolves visit the 76ers tonight at the Wachovia Center,
Gomes, through his nonprofit foundation, Hoops for Heart Health, and
two other organizations, will donate a defibrillator to the AM8
Foundation, sponsored by Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie.
 
  
Foye dunked a basketball last week for the first time in two months and
Friday said he expected to be cleared to play when he returned Monday
for an imaging test on his left knee. The test showed a crack that was
developing on his kneecap is healing, but is still there.
 
Wolves medical personnel have told Foye he can increase his workouts —
ramp up his running and jumping — as long as he experiences no pain or
swelling so that he’ll be in better shape when the kneecap finally is
deemed healed.
 
 
 
Wittman returned to the sideline at Washington after
missing three games. He had back surgery Dec. 5 to repair a ruptured
disk. Wittman said he doesn’t expect the surgery to change how he
coaches. But …
 
"Obviously if I’m sitting a lot, I’m not going to
jump up off the bench here in the next couple weeks and explode at a
ref or I’ll find myself back in the situation I was in, so I’ve got to
be smart there," Wittman said.
 
Also from Alonzo:
Veteran Greg Buckner (strained left calf) is on the
inactive list. He said he injured his calf Dec. 1 at Memphis but
persevered through the pain the next two games. Buckner said the injury
took a turn for the worse, causing him to miss the past two games.
 
 
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press and Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune preview tonight’s game at Philadelphia. 
 
 
Click here for the forum’s game thread for tonight.  
 
 

That said, the Sixers aren’t taking the young Wolves for granted.
 
"It’s key not to take any team in the league lightly, because the worst team just beat the best team — we just saw that with Minnesota beating Phoenix," said Andre Iguodala, who last week stressed the need to play consistently — not up or down to the level of the opponent. "So we need to come out ready to play." 
 
 
 

Wittman kept tabs on his club by watching games at home on television
and by speaking with his coaching staff three or four times a day.
 

"I could see a little bit different things from my vantage point,” Wittman said. "You try to give your two cents’ worth.”