Wolves coach Kevin McHale, asked how badly Smith was hurt, said he didn't know.

"We're going to see," he said. "I didn't hear about the X-rays yet, but he's dinged up pretty good."

Smith was having a big night before he got hurt, scoring 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

In his absence, rookie forward Kevin Love scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in nearly 23 minutes.

Smith was making his 28th consecutive start and was called for a foul on the play on which he was injured.

No thanks: Passed over for the Feb. 15 NBA All-Star Game, Wolves center Al Jefferson still could make it as an injury alternate, but that really doesn't interest him.

"I don't want to get in like that, man," he said before Tuesday's game. "If I make it in like that, it won't even be something that I would be proud of. I take that back. I would be proud just to be in, but I didn't earn it. It's not the same."

New Orleans guard Chris Paul suffered a mild groin strain Monday night in a loss to Portland, which could create an opening for Jefferson on the Western Conference squad, even though he plays a different position.

"Al's been working on his point guard skills," McHale joked.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Chauncey Billups would be two other leading candidates to replace Paul if he pulls out.

NBA Commissioner David Stern would select any alternates.

For the record: Randy Foye's nine turnovers were the most by a Wolves player since Kevin Garnett had nine in a Jan. 8, 2000 victory at Detroit.

The team record of 10 belongs to Christian Laettner, who set it in an April 4, 1993 game against Phoenix and equaled it on Feb. 27, 1994 against Golden State.

Goat of the game: Pacers guard T.J. Ford, an 89 percent free-throw shooter, missed 2 of 4 attempts in the final 24.1 seconds and finished 8 of 12 from the line.

"I definitely let the team down," Ford said. "I had an opportunity more than once to tie the game or take the lead. I just wasn't able to come through in the clutch for my team. I have to sleep on that one tonight."

Sympathy for Bynum: Jefferson said he was sorry to see Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum go down with a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for 8-12 weeks.

"That sucks, man," he said. "That's the same way I hurt mine in September, the same identical way. The only thing is, I sprained mine. He tore his. But he's a tough kid. Hopefully, he'll get back and make that push. That hurts."

Bynum was injured when Lakers star Kobe Bryant crashed into his leg.

McHale said he still hasn't seen the replay and doesn't want to see it.

"I don't like to watch that stuff," he said. "Like the Joe Theismann thing, I've never seen that yet. I just can't even watch it. When you know it's happened to you enough, it just brings back terrible memories."

Sharing the wealth: In typical McHale fashion, he deflected credit for the Western Conference coach of the month award he received for January.

"It's a nice award, but like I always tell you guys, it's a reflection on the coaches, the players and the organization that the guys did better," he said. "It's the way I felt when Al got Western Conference player of the week. It just goes to show that the team is having some more success."

Briefly: Foye, on the Pacers' defense on Jefferson: "Every time he was touching the ball, there were four people on him. Including the refs."

The Wolves return to Target Center tonight to take on the well-rested Atlanta Hawks (27-20), who haven't played since Saturday, when they lost 110-107 to Milwaukee.