Newly appointed coach Kevin McHale took the reins Sunday coaching the Timberwolves to their eighth loss in nine games with a 87-83 loss to the surging Bulls.

McHale, who fired his longtime friend Flip Saunders on Saturday, was on the sideline for the first time since his Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics ended in 1993. As Minnesota's vice president of basketball operations, McHale - fed up with the Wolves' unexpected struggles - made the move to try to jump-start one of the league's most disappointing teams.