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McCants, Timberwolves rout Bucks

Oct 7, 2008 - 4:10 AM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves took their first steps toward forgetting their dreadful 2007-08 campaign.

Rashad McCants scored 22 points and Al Jefferson had 18 and eight rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to a 117-79 preseason blowout over the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on Monday.

The rebuilding Timberwolves finished 22-60 last season - including 7-34 on the road - after trading Kevin Garnett to the champion Boston Celtics in the offseason.

Minnesota rookie forward Kevin Love scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting with six rebounds in his NBA debut.

The 20-year-old first-round draft pick averaged 18.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in four summer league appearances after starring at UCLA, where he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year as a freshman.

Charlie Villanueva scored 14 points while Ramon Sessions and Matt Freije scored 11 each to lead the Bucks, who went 26-56 a season ago.

Richard Jefferson, acquired in an offseason trade with the New Jersey Nets, scored four points in eight minutes in his Bucks debut before leaving with a strained left quadriceps in the first quarter.

Olympic gold medalist Michael Redd started for the Bucks and scored seven points in 19 minutes.

A pair of Bucks' starters - center Andrew Bogut (migraine) and newly acquired point guard Luke Ridnour (right knee tendinitis) - did not play.