After serving a two-game suspension for a DWI arrest, Al Jefferson of the Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the team starting lineup in the game against the Dallas Mavericks. During the team’s morning shootaround, Jefferson declared that the suspension for the DWI arrest was the longest seven days of his life and that he’s glad and feels good to be back. Arrest and consequences Jefferson was arrested on February 28 on the suspicion of drunken driving. He later apologized for the arrest and accepted his suspension. His apology and actions after the arrest impressed Wolves coach Kurt Rambis, who announced being “proud of him as a ballplayer in this organization and as a man." The coach notes that Jefferson didn’t argue with the suspension and the fine. Instead, he took responsibility, accepted the consequences, and owned up to his mistake. Serving the suspension Jefferson says that the time spent on suspension was no vacation for him. He went through a demanding week of weight training, conditioning, and shooting in order to stay sharp and to prepare for his return to the court. Last week, he even traveled to Dallas on his own when the team played there, and watched the game on the TV from his hotel room. He says he wanted to be with his team, which he considers his second family, with all the laughing and joking that happens. Back to the team that needs him He definitely showed how much he was part of the team as he made 36 points and 13 rebounds immediately upon his return. The Timberwolves definitely needs Jefferson’s numbers as they have lost both games without him – at Dallas and a home game against Houston last week. In both games, teammate Darko Milicic took the top scorer’s post in the starting lineup. The best that wasn’t enough During his return, Al Jefferson was unstoppable against the Dallas Mavericks. The Wolves coach Rambis also kept things heated with frequent substitution moves. In this game, Jefferson became the first Timberwolves player to reach 30 points during this season. Before that, it was Jonny Flynn who had the highest number of points in the team. Flynn made 29 points in a Martin Luther King Day matinee victory over Philadelphia in January. Despite Jefferson’s best efforts, Minnesota still lost 125-112 to the Mavericks. At one point, the Wolves’ turnovers were more than Dallas’ at 15 to 1, with the Wolves still within a dozen points. The Mavericks has swept the season series and has beaten the Timberwolves for the 18th time in their last 20 games, with 26 turnovers committed by the Wolves and nine by the Mavs. The beleaguered Minnesota Timberwolves has won only one game since February 6.