Injured Cassell Sits Out Game 5

Dressed in a pink Oxford shirt and jeans when the Minnesota Timberwolves took the court, point guard Sam Cassell went from part-time to no time.

Cassell sat out Game 5 on Saturday, finally giving in to the recurring back spasms and a sore hip that limited him to 16 minutes a game against the Lakers.

The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers, 98-96, meaning Cassell will have had three full days of rest by the time Game 6 starts Monday night in Los Angeles.

Cassell’s presence, full or part time, would be welcomed, although the Timberwolves said they can’t concern themselves with it.

“We can’t dawdle on that,” forward Kevin Garnett said. “If he goes, he goes. If he doesn’t, we’ve got to be ready.

“We’ve got to be aggressive like we were tonight.”

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With no room left for misunderstanding or misinterpretation, the pregame writing on the Timberwolves’ locker-room grease board was clearly stated, particularly the only words in red: “Everyone rebound!”

It had been a problem area for the Timberwolves, who had 22 fewer rebounds than the Lakers through the first four games, but the message got through Saturday.

The Timberwolves outrebounded the Lakers in Game 5, 42-40.

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Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders promised there would be changes, a pledge fulfilled at tipoff when center Ervin Johnson started on the bench for the first time in 17 playoff games.

Michael Olowokandi started in Johnson’s place, the Timberwolves acknowledging the need for more offense from the center position.

“Michael hadn’t been able to stay on the floor much and we wanted to get him to stay on the floor a little bit,” Saunders said. “He’s longer, a little bit bigger body, a little bit more athletic than some of our other guys.”

Johnson, who had averaged 3.3 points against the Lakers, did not enter the game until there were 5 minutes 23 seconds left in the third period. He went scoreless in five minutes. Olowokandi scored one point in 19 minutes.

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The Timberwolves complained about a free-throw imbalance after leaving Los Angeles, but they made 26 of 32 in Game 5. The Lakers made 13 of 24.... The Timberwolves won the third quarter, 27-23, for the first time in the series.