"Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to be a go-to player in the NBA.

As an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, he saw Kobe Bryant put up game-winning shots at the buzzer. As a player for the Lakers in the 1980s, he and teammates had the comfort of knowing that Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or James Worthy would be on the floor to rescue the Lakers from a possible defeat.

Rambis believes it takes a "special player" to earn the stature of a go-to guy. Wednesday night at Target Center against the Los Angeles Clippers, Michael Beasley might have taken a significant step in claiming that title with the Wolves.

Beasley — discarded by the Miami Heat to make room for celebrated free agents LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh — scored 10 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth quarter. His final basket, a silky-smooth jumper over former Wolves forward Ryan Gomes with 2.3 seconds left, lifted the Wolves to a 113-111 victory.

"Michael clearly has the tools and the characteristics," Rambis said. "What he needs now is the experience to be in those situations and make the right decisions."

Beasley will have more opportunities to rescue the Wolves. Rambis did not hesitate to draw up a play for Beasley in the huddle with 14.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the score tied 111-111. Two days earlier, Rambis drew up two plays for Beasley in Charlotte, and Beasley lost the ball on both occasions. The Wolves (4-9) lost the game, but Rambis came right back to Beasley on Wednesday night.

This time, Beasley didn't think too much, reacting on instinct, dribbling to a spot to the right of the free-throw circle and rising over Gomes. When asked what he thought about getting another play drawn up for him at crunch time, Beasley simply said, "I blacked out." "