Twin Cities <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BILLINGS, Mont. ? In his Minnesota Timberwolves' debut, point guard Marko Jaric started and played 27 minutes while handing out seven assists, but the Indiana Pacers got the upper hand for the second time in six days, winning 93-76 Thursday night at Metrapark Arena. Jaric, who signed a six-year, $38 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal between the Timberwolves and Clippers in August, scored the first Minnesota basket at the 9:41 mark of the first quarter on a driving layup. A little more than two minutes later, he recorded his first assist on a pass to Kevin Garnett as Garnett made a 13-foot turnaround jump shot from the left side. Jaric hadn't played in an exhibition game because of a sprained right ankle suffered in practice on Oct. 11. Although his playing status was listed as questionable, Jaric played the first nine minutes of the opening quarter, making 1 of 3 shots from the field with two assists and a rebound. "I definitely have high expectations for myself going into this season ? going into this six-year deal," said the 6-foot-7 Jaric, who averaged a career-high 9.9 points and 6.1 assists a game last season despite going on the injured list twice with stress fractures in his right foot. "I've tried to bring my game to a different level. There's a lot of talent (on this team)." After Jaric departed, Minnesota grabbed its first lead, 16-15, on two Eddie Griffin free throws. But the Wolves trailed 23-18 after the first quarter, their largest deficit. Center Michael Olowokandi, averaging 7.7 points a game during the preseason, led Minnesota at the half with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Olowokandi finished with a game-high 18 points. Garnett added 11 points and five rebounds, and Jaric had four points and two rebounds. Indiana opened an eight-point lead in the second quarter before the Timberwolves bounced back behind Olowokandi. The 7-foot center sizzled, making four shots in less than three minutes, as Minnesota pulled within 47-45 at intermission. Olowokandi was 8 of 10 from the field in just 15 minutes. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, who had been out the entire preseason with a right thigh contusion, debuted with 12 points in the first half. He finished with 16. The Wolves scored just 16 points in the third quarter but cut Indiana's lead to only six. The Wolves' offensive difficulties included three air balls in a span of 1:39.</div> Source
