Milwaukee (1-2) at Minnesota (1-4)

Cloudy Currently: Minneapolis, MN
Temp: 38° F
  • Game info: 8:00 pm EST Fri Nov 6, 2009
  • TV: FSWI

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN, STATS Senior Writer Nov 5, 5:05 pm EST

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The Minnesota Timberwolves had two picks in the draft lottery this past June and selected guards Ricky Rubio(notes) and Jonny Flynn(notes).

They passed on a chance to get Brandon Jennings(notes), who was taken 10th by the Milwaukee Bucks and has been stellar in his first three NBA games.

The top rookie scorers in the league meet for the first time Friday night when Jennings and the Bucks visit Flynn and the Timberwolves.

Minnesota (1-4) grabbed Rubio and Flynn with the fifth and sixth picks. Rubio opted to stay in Spain while Flynn earned the starting point guard job, averaging 13.8 points and 3.6 assists.

Those numbers, though, pale in comparison to what Jennings has produced. He is averaging 22.0 points and is second to Golden State’s Stephen Curry(notes) among rookies with 5.3 assists per game.

Jennings did not attend college, choosing to play a season in Europe, and his stock likely suffered as a result. His play, though, has not as he has increased his scoring output every game.

Jennings had 25 points against Chicago on Monday in an 83-81 loss - the Bucks’ 11th road defeat in 12 games.

“He genuinely loves to play the game,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles told the Bulls’ official Web site. “I know everyone says they do, but I think we all know at this level there are a lot of guys who love the game and there are other guys who love the stuff the game provides. He loves to play and he’s in the gym all the time.”

The 20-year-old Jennings may have to shoulder more of the scoring load with Michael Redd(notes) out for two weeks with a strained tendon in his left knee. Redd has averaged at least 21 points the last five seasons.

With Rubio staying abroad, Flynn beat out Ramon Sessions(notes) for the starting job with Minnesota. Sessions played the last two seasons with the Bucks (1-2), starting 39 games in 2008-09, before they allowed him to leave after picking Jennings.

Flynn has been steady, scoring in double figures in every game and shooting 50 percent from the field. His young club, though, dropped its fourth straight Wednesday, 92-90 to Boston.

Oleksiy Pecherov(notes) scored a career-high 24 points and Al Jefferson(notes) added 18 for the Timberwolves, whose last three losses came by a combined 13 points.

“We played hard, we played with a lot of energy,” Pecherov said. “We just have to learn how to finish these games. We’ve been playing the last three games with great effort. To lose at the end of the game is kind of hard. It’s what we need to learn about.”

Minnesota has won three straight overall against Milwaukee and nine of the last 10 matchups at the Target Center.

Updated Nov 5, 5:05 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Milwaukee 8-4 2nd Central / 5th East 99.8 95.9 Road 2-3 Lost 1 7-3
Minnesota 1-13 5th Northwest / 15th West 88.6 102.7 Home 1-6 Lost 13 0-10

Notes

F Richard Jefferson led the Bucks with 31 points, F Luc Mbah a Moute had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and G Ramon Sessions had 12 assists for the Bucks. ... Former Indiana University coach Kelvin Sampson, now an assistant with the Bucks, was booed by a small section of fans near the visiting bench before tip-off. Indiana is on probation from the NCAA because of a phone-call scandal involving Sampson.

Apr 15, 10:55 pm EDT

F-C Craig Smith scored 18 points in 18 minutes before fouling out for the Wolves. ... Rookie F-C Kevin Love had a team-high 10 rebounds. ... The Timberwolves shot 7-for-25 from 3-point range.

Apr 16, 12:03 am EDT
NBA

16 Comments

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  1. C-Note
    16. Posted by C-Note Sat Nov 7 12:27pm EST

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    Rambis needs to learn Flynn is NOT a point guard (averages more TO than assists). He's an undersized shooting guard or sixth man. Start sessions already, the twolves would have a lot better ball movement
  2. Dan G
    15. Posted by Dan G Sat Nov 7 12:14pm EST

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    hey tmoon

    30-23
    38-26
    Favre 7 TD's

    Eat one.
  3. tmoon
    14. Posted by tmoon Sat Nov 7 11:24am EST

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    hey #4, get educated moron, MN sucks, way to fill up that tropy room Viqueens, Twolves, Gophers...
  4. Dan G
    13. Posted by Dan G Sat Nov 7 1:50am EST

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    So the badgers beat the gophers in football, VIkings OWNED the fudgepackers twice this year.

    Talk it up sconnie. Bucks and Wolves will both finish at the bottom of their conferences.
  5. <i>drutherford33</i>
    12. Posted by drutherford33 Sat Nov 7 1:02am EST

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    Seems obvious that H Warrick should be playing 35 minutes per night right?
  6. Bill
    11. Posted by Bill Fri Nov 6 11:53pm EST

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    While it is true the Bucks do suck, the Wolves are the definition of suck
  7. Bill
    10. Posted by Bill Fri Nov 6 11:45pm EST

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    Get educated... ANOTHER Minnesota domination? Did Minnesota beat the Badgers too?

    Love to see the Wolves, as bad as rhe Bucks are and without thier top player STILL get spanksed. Well GSPOT, you were half right. It WAS a 15 point difference, lol.
  8. Sick and Tired
    9. Posted by Sick and Tired Fri Nov 6 11:04pm EST

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    It's about time Bucks! You're well on your way to 22 victories this season. If only you could play against teams like Minnesota every night!!! Bunch of underachievers.
  9. Chadwick
    8. Posted by Chadwick Fri Nov 6 10:59pm EST

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    New players, New system, New (1st year) head coach, New GM..An entirely new team. It will take time to mesh, it's a Re-Rebuilding year for the Wolves, after the mess McFail left behind it's a wonder they're fielding a semi-competitive team at all.
  10. Lind
    7. Posted by Lind Fri Nov 6 10:46pm EST

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    TWolves are a joke, total disgrace to the NBA
  11. Nate Almighty
    6. Posted by Nate Almighty Fri Nov 6 10:44pm EST

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    i guess #4 doesnt remeber that the Badgers beat the Gophers this year
  12. vballchick_22
    5. Posted by vballchick_22 Fri Nov 6 10:34pm EST

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    Wtf is Get Educated talking about? The bucks won. idiot
  13. Dan G
    4. Posted by Dan G Fri Nov 6 8:19pm EST

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    Milwaukee sucks, another Minnesota domination over a Wisconsin team.
  14. GSPOT
    3. Posted by GSPOT Fri Nov 6 6:41pm EST

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    T'Wolves by 15.

    GO WOLVES!!!
  15. Wu
    2. Posted by Wu Fri Nov 6 5:55pm EST

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    comparing stats over a three and five game period is completely worthless. i suppose channing frye was the best center in the league according to you a week ago?
  16. Adam
    1. Posted by Adam Fri Nov 6 4:14pm EST

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    Oleksiy Pecherov is AMAZING. Good Luck Pech!!!!!! Get Buckets Son!!
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