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McCants, Jefferson lead Timberwolves to first win

Nov 15, 2007 - 5:17 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Rashad McCants helped the Minnesota Timberwolves finally get into the win column.

McCants scored a career-high 33 points and Al Jefferson added 23 as the Timberwolves posted a 108-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

"I don't think worry about career highs," McCants said. "I try and go out there and play my heart out for my teammates. I owe it to them. We've worked hard just to make this thing right."

McCants scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to help Minnesota to its first win of the season.

"It was well-needed, much-anticipated," McCants said. "We've been in all our games, down to the wire. We've been practicing keeping our composure in the fourth quarter, so we can get the win."

Jefferson shot 11-of-16 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Timberwolves gain a 46-28 advantage in the paint and a 41-26 edge on the glass

"We were able to play a good inside out game tonight," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "We really got him (Jefferson) going a little bit, and then I thought Rashad kind of took over in the second half. He was aggressive, and I don't ever remember him taking a bad shot."

A third-year guard, McCants shot 13-of-22 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from the arc, as the Timberwolves avenged a 100-93 loss to Sacramento on Saturday and spoiled the return of Ron Artest.

Artest, who tallied 17 points and six assists, returned from a seven-game suspension for pleading no-contest to a domestic violence charge.

"It's a tough loss for us," first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "Once again, we're minus 15 on the boards and they got 48 points in the paint, it's hard to fight through that."

It was a tightly contested game in which neither team led by more than six points until the final period.

McCants hit a 17-footer to put Minnesota up 88-87 at the 4:28 mark and scored nine points during a 12-3 run to help the Timberwolves take a 100-90 lead with 1:04 left.

Antoine Walker scored 19 for Minnesota, which shot 53 percent (42-of-79) from the floor.

Kevin Martin scored 22 points, while Beno Udrih and Brad Miller scored 17 apiece for Sacramento.