Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders played Felipe Lopez at point guard for the first time on Friday night. Before Saturday's game against Atlanta, Saunders said:

"One big advantage when Felipe plays there is you have a 6-foot-6 guy playing defense against the other team's point guard."

This proved very prophetic. Jason Terry, Atlanta's explosive point guard, was starting to get on a roll against a tiring Chauncey Billups late in the third quarter.

Terry hit four baskets in a stretch of 3 1/2 minutes to draw the Hawks within 78-70. Saunders sent in Lopez to replace Billups and stop Terry.

"And that's what I did," Lopez said. "I have a reputation in the league as being quick. People know I'm a good defender."

Lopez shut out Terry from 3:05 remaining in the third period until Lopez was replaced by Billups with 8:42 left in the game. Billups was energized and outplayed Terry down the stretch.

As it turned out, Terry did not have a basket and had only one free throw after Saunders went to Lopez to play defense.

"No baskets ... that's good, right?" Lopez said.