http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16623544.htm Randy Witt-man's primary focus since he took over as Timberwolves coach seven games ago was to restore the team's defensive effectiveness. Maybe he's finding the answers, especially late in games. In fourth quarters under Wittman, the Wolves are giving up an average of just 20 points while allowing 34.7 percent shooting. That just hasn't translated into many wins for Wittman, who is 2-5 since taking over for Dwane Casey, though four of those losses have been by eight points combined. Wittman watched his club win the fourth quarter Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks 24-16 but lose the game 94-93. Dallas shot just 33.3 percent (6 for 18, including 1 for 11 on three point attempts) in the fourth. Zone defense helped the Wolves almost rally from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter. Wittman switched to a zone defense at that point, and that rattled the Mavericks. "We threw a couple different looks at them, zone-wise, and we were pretty active in it," Wittman said. "We were pleased with that." Said veteran Ricky Davis: "It kind of took them out of their sets and what they wanted to do. It kind of made it a one-on-one game with Dirk (Nowitzki) at the elbow, and that's what we wanted." In the fourth quarters of the first 20 games this season under Casey, the Wolves limited opponents to 21.9 points and 38.9 percent shooting. But then the club lost its way and allowed 25 points and 50.8 percent shooting in the fourth quarter of Casey's last 20 games. See you next time: Kevin Garnett said he asked official Jim Clark whether the right call was made when Davis drove into the lane with fewer than 30 seconds remaining Saturday night and no foul was called. Davis was stripped twice, and Garnett lost the ball, too. Both players said they thought they were fouled, but no whistles sounded. "I talked to Jimmy, and Jimmy said he would look at it and said he would let me know the next time I see him," Garnett said. "He's probably 50-50 on that one, himself. It was good communication between he and I and trying to get the right call on that. But the game's over with." --

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