"Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis summoned youngsters Jonny Flynn and Kevin Love forward on the team's flight from Newark to Cleveland after Tuesday's pathetic 27-point loss to the Knicks.

"I thought we were in trouble," Love said Wednesday. "I wasn't sure what we were going to hear after last night's game."

Instead, Rambis stood the two players before their teammates and told them they were looking at elected participants to next month's All-Star weekend Rookie Challenge in Dallas.

Flynn will play alongside Sacramento's Tyreke Evans, Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings, Golden State's Stephen Curry and five others for the rookie team in the Feb. 12 Friday night game on All-Star weekend.

Love will play with Chicago's Derrick Rose, Memphis' O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, New Jersey's Brook Lopez, Miami's Michael Beasley and former UCLA teammates Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), among others, one year after he was left off the rookie team. He was picked by assistant coaches despite missing 20 games this season because of injury and illness.

"It's just an honor," said Flynn, who entered Wednesday's game at Cleveland averaging 14.2 points on .420 percent shooting and 4.2 assists per game. "Despite all the losing and tough times this season, this is one of the bright spots for me and Kevin. It's definitely good."

Trying again

Rambis stayed with Tuesday's starting lineup -- Ryan Gomes in at power forward, Love out -- despite the Knicks' 15-0 start to the game that night. This time, the Wolves led the Cavs 6-2 and 19-15 early.

He said he has made that change the past two nights in an attempt to improve the team's starts and strengthen the team's bench. He said he has "a lot of confidence in Kevin Love's ability to fit in anywhere on our team. If it benefits our ballclub, I can count on him to make that sacrifice."

Love said he's "fine" with this revised role, even though he termed Tuesday's game (17 minutes, six points, five rebounds) as awful."