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Tuesday, April 29, 1997

Hard foul a message to Houston?

By RON LESKO

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - Sam Mitchell did more than show Kevin Willis the Minnesota Timberwolves were tired of his tactics when he sent him sprawling in Game 2 of their playoff series with the Houston Rockets.

Mitchell showed his young teammates the kind of attitude it takes to win in the postseason.

Mitchell, whose 38 career playoff games are second most on the Wolves, was ejected for his hard foul on Willis on a breakaway during the fourth quarter of Houston's 96-84 victory Saturday.

The foul and Mitchell's ejection had little impact on the outcome of the game, but Wolves coach Flip Saunders hopes his team learned something from the sequence.

"It definitely showed that this is what it's all about," Saunders said Sunday. "Sam chased down a guy not to let him have a layup. Every possession becomes important in the playoffs. You can never give a team anything, because once you give it to them you can never get it back."

Mitchell was more interested in sending a message to Willis than anyone else. The Wolves have been frustrated by Willis' play, including a shot to Kevin Garnett's throat in Game 1. Mitchell said Willis has hit him in the face three times during the series without getting whistled for a foul.

"I'm not a punching bag," Mitchell said. "He thinks this is the wild, wild West. I wasn't surprised at the (ejection), but what else am I supposed to take."

Learning lessons is what this maiden postseason trip has been about for Minnesota. The Wolves seem to be doing that, following Thursday night's worse-than-it-sounds 17-point loss with a gutty performance Saturday.

Making the first network television appearance in its eight-year history, Minnesota led 79-78 with 5:47 remaining, but the Rockets' experience took over down the stretch.

"They're not in the playoff because they're lucky," Houston's Mario Elie said. "They're in the playoffs because they're good. These young guys are playing like veterans. It's a fun series. I think we just have a little too much for them. But a couple of years down the line they're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

Both teams had the day off Sunday before resuming preparations for tonight's Game 3 at Target Center, the first home playoff game in Timberwolves history.

Although they are one game from elimination in the best-of-5 series, the Wolves are eager to return to their building. They were among the league's best home teams until a late-season swoon, knocking off the Lakers, Utah and New York in consecutive games surrounding Christmas.

Minnesota's closest game with the Rockets this season - Houston has won all six - was a 96-94 loss at Target Center on Dec. 10. Despite the league-record 422 losses in their first seven seasons, the Wolves beat the Rockets at home once every season except 1990-91.

"We're definitely going to be ready and we know what Houston wants to do," Garnett said. "It will definitely be a different attitude."

The Rockets seem to have far too much talent and experience to blow their 2-0 series lead. One of Minnesota's few potential advantages heading into the series was its youth and the possibility that the Rockets' age might show.

It hasn't happened.

"We've been hearing about age since the start of the season," Hakeem Olajuwon said. "Age is not a factor. If anything in this situation, it's an advantage. It could be (a disadvantage) if we're not in shape, but we're in shape. This time of year the key is mental."Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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