"I did?" he asked innocently about delivering consecutive 30-point games for the first time in his career and against two of the league's best defensive teams. "I'm just playing. I've been feeling good, that's all."

There's still a chance Commissioner David Stern will name Jefferson to the team as an injury replacement. New Orleans guard Chris Paul might miss the Feb. 15 game because of a strained groin, but Stern probably would pick another point guard (Utah's Deron Williams?) to replace him.

"Al has been working on his point-guard skills," Wolves coach Kevin McHale said. "You never know. Odd stuff happens."

Jefferson already has made plans to head home to Mississippi for the break.

"I don't want to get in like that," said Jefferson, who was held to two first-half points and finished with a 12-point, 15-rebound night Tuesday at Indiana. "If I have to, I will be proud just to be in, but it's not the same."

Looking back

The Western Conference squad doesn't have a player from a team with a losing record. The East has three, including Indiana forward Danny Granger. The Wolves took Rashad McCants with the 14th pick in the 2005 draft, three picks before the Pacers selected Granger. McHale said he passed on Granger -- fifth in the league in scoring with a 25.5 average -- after doctors "red-flagged" him because of knee surgery that ended his final season at New Mexico. Granger scored 28 Tuesday.

"I thought he was really unique," McHale said. "I didn't see him becoming this type of scorer in our league, but I saw him as a really good, solid player."

Faith in a friend

Old friend and longtime teammate Larry Bird never thought McHale would coach again, but he's not surprise he's succeeding. McHale on Monday was chosen the Western Conference's best coach in January.

"Kevin's got a way with people, always has," Bird said. "Kevin even as a player was good, real good, but he never wanted to hear how good he was. That's the way he has always been. He doesn't want any credit, and he won't think he's doing a good job. I think he's a damn good coach."

Etc.

- Starting forward Craig Smith left the game late in the first quarter after he bruised his ribs in a collision with Pacers forward Troy Murphy and did not return.

"I don't know," McHale said when asked about Smith's condition. "He's dinged up pretty good."

- McHale on being named Western Conference Coach of the Month: "Well, it's a nice honor to have. What it really shows is the team played well."

- Chris Richard and Blake Ahearn -- among the last Wolves cuts in October -- will play in the NBA Development League's All-Star Game that is part of the NBA's All-Star weekend in Phoenix.