--Wolves coach Kevin McHale second-guessed himself for playing injured G Sebastian Telfair 20 minutes in Wednesday's loss to Detroit after Telfair got hit on his already bruised thigh near the game's start. But Telfair wore extra padding on that thigh, started again Friday and played 27 minutes, but not at all in the fourth quarter.
McHale said Telfair was fine to play in the fourth quarter, but he just decided not to play him, probably because the Lakers led by 20 early in the quarter. "There's not too much pain, I just can't move the same," said Telfair, who was kneed in that thigh late in Monday's victory at Milwaukee. "I'm still fast enough to stay in front of guys playing defense, but on offense, turning the corner on screen-and-rolls have been pretty difficult on me."
--C Al Jefferson's agent called him after practice Thursday and told him hours before the official announcement that he didn't make the All-Star team.
"I kind of had that feeling anyway," said Jefferson, who still could be named a reserve by NBA Commissioner David Stern if one of the West's 12 players is injured. "It's kind of one those things where you just know. If you ask me, the All-Star team was made up two months ago. They already knew who they were going to pick. I was disappointed at first, but I got over it real fast and moved on."
When told he appears to be a favorite next season if the Wolves continue to improve, Jefferson said, "That's what I heard last year. That (doesn't) excite me (any) more."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's a level that is as good as it gets, and he has reached that level." -- Wolves coach Kevin McHale, when asked if he considers Lakers star Kobe Bryant one of the game's all-time great players.
