"Two weeks ago, Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings recanted what he said about Ricky Rubio before the 2009 draft, attributing his "all hype" comments back then to youthful indiscretion.

On Tuesday night, he said little publicly, but his actions spoke for his mouth when he delivered a commanding 24-point, 7-assist performance in the Bucks' 98-95 home victory over the Timberwolves.

Rubio's flashy bounce passes filled ESPN's SportsCenter highlights after he made his NBA debut in Monday's season-opening loss to Oklahoma City at Target Center.

One night later, Jennings -- now in his third NBA season though he was drafted five slots later than Rubio in 2009 -- schooled the newcomer on the back-to-back game demands of a truncated NBA season and fourth-quarter dynamics.

When Wolves guard J.J. Barea left the game clutching his left hamstring, Rubio defended Jennings for the game's final six minutes. And Jennings, who last played a real game against Rubio when both played in Europe three seasons ago, took it right it at the rookie.

He drew fouls from Rubio on consecutive possessions until the Wolves switched Luke Ridnour onto Jennings, who reached the free-throw line for eight attempts in the fourth quarter alone.

Afterward, Wolves assistant coach Terry Porter was asked if opposing point guards will challenge Rubio like that every night.

"Oh yeah, he's a rookie and he has got a lot of hype," said Porter, who served as acting coach while Rick Adelman attended a family funeral.

"When you're a player and you got a young point guard and a guy who has a lot of hype, as a veteran you want to go at him and see what he's made of. That's part of the process. That's the initiation, so to speak, to the point guard-hood of the NBA."