"I'm happy where I'm at," Telfair said before Friday's game. "Anybody would like to play in their hometown. If it happens, I'd be happy, but I'm happy where I'm at."

As proof, the Brooklyn native said he spent his Christmas in the Twin Cities, even with an opportunity to spend a couple of extra days in New York.

"I actually stayed in Minnesota with my daughter, my son and my wife," he said. "That's home. Minnesota's home."

This hasn't been an easy season for Telfair, but he returned to New York on an up note, having scored 16 points in nearly 31 minutes off the bench in Tuesday night's 99-93 loss at San Antonio after not playing in the previous two games.

"I think he's coming along. I really do," Wolves coach Kevin McHale said. "Sebastian has periods where he goes out there and plays very, very well, and there are periods where I think he gets a little bit ahead of himself. It's one of those deals where Sebastian has to play fast but under-control fast. He's always on that fine line."

With the Wolves on a 13-game losing streak heading into Friday night's game, Telfair said no one has a right to complain about playing time, but he vowed to work his way back into a regular role.

"I've been here before," he said. "I know how to swim my back up to the top and I will, starting tonight."

Invisible man: At least Telfair was in the arena Friday night.

That's more than could be said for his cousin Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who has spent this season on the inactive list, collecting his $20.8 million contract while waiting to be released or traded.

"I hate to see anybody in the situation that he's in right now," Telfair said. "For the simple fact that he's a Basketball player that's not playing Basketball right now. I know that's what he loves to do. Hopefully, he'll be back on the court pretty soon."

McHale laughed when asked what Marbury's career might have been like if the Knicks guard had remained with the Wolves.

"I don't know. What do I look like?" he asked. "You guys are amazing. Let me put on my hat, and I'll get back to you. No, I enjoyed Steph when he was there. He was an easy guy to work with, worked hard. I thought he was a really good young player, and it just didn't work out."

Another start for Ollie: With Mike Miller still sidelined by a sprained right ankle, Kevin Ollie got his second straight start at point guard for the Wolves.

Miller's injury also meant a second straight start at shooting guard for Randy Foye, who had 26 points and set a team record for rebounds by a guard with 16 at San Antonio.

Miller didn't accompany the team to New York, but McHale said, "I wouldn't be surprised if he played tomorrow."

Next up: The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Wolves, who return to Target Center tonight to take on the Orlando Magic (23-6).

The Magic have won six straight and are 1-0 against Minnesota this season after a 100-89 victory Dec. 3 at Orlando.

Center Dwight Howard had 23 points, 14 rebounds, six blocked shots and three steals in that game, and Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu added 23 and 22 points, respectively.

The Magic shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the floor and went 10 of 21 from three-point range to offset a 42-31 Wolves rebounding advantage.

Quote of the day: From TNT analyst Charles Barkley, on Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson becoming the fastest to 1,000 wins: "If he's that good of a coach, have him trade places with Kevin McHale. That would be impressive to me."