Foye earning trust, minutes with play Rookie's 41-minute, 19-point effort impressed Spurs' Popovich http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16387223.htm If things had been a little different, Randy Foye might be playing for the Philadelphia 76ers tonight. Instead, the rookie point guard remains the Timberwolves' brightest young player, and he already is one of their best in clutch situations. With his play against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, Foye again showed why the Wolves reportedly didn't want to trade him to the Sixers as part of their push to get Allen Iverson. Foye logged a season-high 41 minutes against the Spurs, his season high, and scored 19 points, including four in overtime. "He's going to be a fine young guard," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's got a good sense about him, a good pace. He's aggressive. He doesn't have any fear, makes pretty good decisions. He is just going to get better and better." The Wolves have placed more and more trust in Foye, who averaged 12.7 points and shot 48 percent over the past 11 games, which all came after the Iverson trade talk broke in early December. Foye was named the Western Conference's rookie of the month earlier this week. "He's a heady guard," Wolves coach Dwane Casey said. "If I didn't think he was ready to handle it, he wouldn't be out there. He's ready for it. Does he still make mistakes? Yes, we all do. But he learns from his mistakes." Foye is making a push for more playing time, though Casey said there's no sense of urgency to put the rookie in the starting lineup. Before the Spurs game, Foye's season high for minutes was 27 minutes Nov. 27 at Dallas. In that game, Foye scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to get the Wolves back in the game of an eventual loss. Against the Spurs, he made an 18-foot jumper for a 97-93 Minnesota lead with 2:02 left in overtime. Then he drew a foul on Manu Ginobili and made two free throws for a 99-95 advantage with 1:29 left. Foye played so many minutes in large part because starter Mike James was in foul trouble. But Casey said Foye isn't being given any minutes. He's had to earn them. "The key thing that helps him stay on the floor is his defense," Casey said. "His physical play, guarding his guy, rebounding. If he screws up on the offensive end, he doesn't compound it with a defensive mistake. That's what keeps him on the floor even if his offense isn't going." Foye is averaging 8.4 points and 18 minutes a game this season, with game highs of 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. His 22.4 points per 48 minutes is second on the team behind Kevin Garnett's 27.7. In the past five games, Foye averaged 27 minutes. He has gone from sharing backup point guard duties with Troy Hudson to holding that role by himself. Asked if the Spurs game gave him more confidence, Foye said: "My confidence is already there. I don't think I've lost any confidence. It's just all about getting on the court and getting an opportunity." --

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