MINNEAPOLIS — Things were not going well for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter Friday night. So coach Flip Saunders hollered toward the end of the bench: "Mad Dog!"
The beast was unleashed.
Mark Madsen came in and promptly outplayed Sacramento's Chris Webber. Saunders pretty much left him in there the rest of the way. Not bad for a guy who didn't play at all in Game 2 of this playoff series.
"When you are on a team with great players, situations change," Madsen said. "Sometimes you don't play at all. You just have to be ready when they call your name. I have no problem with that."
In 26 minutes of action, he led the team in rebounds with 13, a career high. He also scored seven points, received a technical foul and was on the receiving end of a couple of hard fouls in the Wolves' pivotal 86-74 Game 5 victory at Target Center that gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead as the series moves to Sacramento for Game 6 today.
"The thing with us is that it could be anybody on a given night," Madsen said. "Anybody from one to 12."
Speaking of numbers, Saunders said Madsen now officially is the No. 2 center in the playoffs behind starter Ervin Johnson.
"I'll do my very best to respond," Madsen said of the promotion.
Michael Olowokandi has dropped off the depth charts, if not the face of the earth. Saunders has put him in mothballs. Madsen and Gary Trent are absorbing most of those minutes. And while Trent wasn't lighting it up when he was out there in the first half, at least he wasn't fouling or turning the ball over.
But Madsen really flourished. Sporting the beginnings of a shiner, which was just perfect for his image, he brought energy and drive. He is the kind of player another team likes to give a good smack. The Kings did, too. Darius Songaila was called for a flagrant foul against Madsen, climbing on his back and trying to ride him like a bronco.
Mad Dog likes that stuff. It helps him concentrate.
This was the type of rugged, grinding game in which a player like Madsen can excel. It was more about effort than finesse, as the defensive curtain tossed up on both sides was impenetrable for everyone except Latrell Sprewell.
Madsen would drive hard to the hoop, miss the shot, get his own rebound and kick it back out. The crowd went nuts.
An unsung MVP of Friday's game might have been guard Darrick Martin, who antagonized Sacramento's Brad Miller into jumping on his back.
A smart but painful play.
Both players were ejected, and with Miller gone, the Kings were mighty thin on the front line. Vlade Divac and Webber already were in foul trouble. And Sacramento coach Rick Adelman likes to use just one sub—Miller—up there.
Divac's tongue soon was hanging below his knees. After all, he's about 50 years old. Adelman was forced to use Darius Songaila more.
With Mad Dog bouncing around like a pingpong ball underneath, the Kings wore down.
Martin, who apparently nailed Miller below the belt, was ejected, too. But the Wolves will take that trade any day. There was some concern, however. Sam Cassell was having trouble with back spasms.
After committing two fouls in the first couple of minutes, Cassell went to the bench. Even when he reentered the game, he was lost in the crowd. I noticed him twice in the first half. Both times, he tripped over a Kings player. Both times, the Kings had fouls called against them.
Cassell played just 11 minutes in the half and recorded one point and one turnover. Those are not the type of qualifications that get you in the Big Three. Cassell finished with just three points.
Clearly, he was in pain. The trainer spent a lot of time working on him while he was on the bench.
Sprewell picked up the scoring slack, however, and Madsen provided the energy.
"One thing about this team," Madsen said. "It never gives up. Not everything is going to go for you every night. But it never gives up."
With their newly appointed No. 2 center in tow, the Wolves will try to finish off the Kings today. After Friday's performance, rest assured the Mad Dog again will be unleashed.