Howlin' T-Wolf

The streak has been pushed to 16 in a row but under the dark cloud of weary faces and gloomy performances, the Wolves found a gem in the sand: Kevin Love. Wait, we already knew he was a gem. So, why does coach Rambis finally figure to play him last night? Huh, weird. Here are today’s Wolf Tracks:

Timberwolf Tracks:

• The Suns just proved to be too much for the Wolves, yet again, in their win last night, 111-105.
• Kevin Love straight up balled last night. Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press had this to say:

Kevin Love’s 23 points and career-high 22 rebounds off the bench Sunday night impressed Rambis, who has had to adjust Love’s role a few times this season. Love has started and come off the bench, a role he has questioned but accepts.

“Kevin is working on continuing to play hard,” Rambis said. “When he keeps his head up and plays his (bleep) off, when he doesn’t let things bother him, he’s an All-Star caliber player. He has to stay that way.”

• Straight out of Henry Abbott’s First Cup: Monday:

Phil Miller of the Star Tribune: “The Timberwolves have been gruesome for six months now, but Sunday they attached the imprimatur of history to their ineptitude. Wherever Bill Blair and Sean Rooks and Greg Foster and Isaiah Rider are today, someone should let them know they officially have company in the record books: The Wolves have lost 16 in a row once more. ‘Everybody is frustrated,’ coach Kurt Rambis said after Phoenix extended Minnesota’s skid with a 111-105 victory at Target Center. ‘I’m frustrated, the coaches are, the players are, the front office is, the fans are.’ Yet here’s the odd thing about these modern-day Minnesota misadventurers. Even as their failures stretched over a fifth consecutive week without respite, the Wolves found signs of hope amid the despair, glimmers of progress under the avalanche of L’s. What does it say about a team that can point to a franchise-record losing streak — and see improvement?”

• The Wolves plan on unveiling their plans to get Corey Brewer his well-deserved M.I.P. Award.

Other Tracks:

• J.J. Redick stepped in for injured Vince Carter and helped the Magic prevail over the Nuggets, 103, 97.