AUBURN HILLS, MICH. - The Timberwolves have survived a 15-victory season here into March without completely cracking from losing's fatigue.
That's so unlike the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday night's opponent at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
A franchise that reached six Eastern Conference finals, two NBA Finals and won a title in the past decade played with just six players Friday against Philadelphia after seven players missed the morning shootaround in what sure looked like a mutiny against coach John Kuester.
Four players were fined. Only the six who attended the shootaround played that night.
"It was crazy," Wolves forward Kevin Love said. "They have a lot of stuff going on within the organization. It's an interesting situation. I don't really know what to make of it because I've never seen anything like it."
The Pistons are a veteran team -- Rip Hamilton, Charlie Villanueva, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon -- with an underachieving 22-41 record after Wednesday's loss to the Wolves.
The Wolves are a young team -- Love, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson, Anthony Randolph, Jonny Flynn all are 23 or younger -- that left the Palace of Auburn Hills with a 15-47 record.
"They have guys who are vets in this league and guys who have been through the ringer," Love said. "We have guys who want to get better and still are very, very young. You come from the situation they're in ... we've avoided that. Since we are so young, it probably does help us."
Left behind Starting center Darko Milicic and reserve guard Martell Webster did not accompany the Wolves to Detroit after Tuesday's home loss to the Lakers.
Milicic stayed home to attend to a family matter, while Webster continues to be bothered by a bad back that required surgery in October.
Milicic is the latest Wolves player in a growing list (Luke Ridnour and Wayne Ellington are others) who have missed games in recent weeks either to attend a family funeral or be with a newborn child.
Asked if he has experienced so many injuries and absences before, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said, "Not in one season and not grouped together like this."
Kobe's take Here's what Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant said about the Wolves after facing them Tuesday:
"It's coming," he said of the Wolves' development. "It's a team that still has young pieces. You don't want to look back years from now and say, 'Wow, they had Wesley Johnson, they had Kevin Love, they had Beasley, all on the same team.' Then you look up and they're playing for someone else. That's your crew, and you got to keep it together and they've got to grow together."
Etc. • Love extended his double-double streak to 48 games Wednesday, reaching it midway through the third quarter on his way to a 20-point, 20-rebound night.
• Flynn reached a career high with 10 assists before halftime on Wednesday. He finished with 14.
