M.C. Hammer was in the house, which made it easy for the Timberwolves to flash back to the style of basketball that worked so well for them in days of yore.

Both were last hot at about the same time, right?

Actually, the Wolves' rise and fall wasn't quite so meteoric or dated as Mr. Hammer's. They only had to reach back a month or so to reclaim the defensive intensity that had carried them 20 victories beyond .500, to restore the confidence and camaraderie so evident over the first half of their season and to rebuff the Portland Trail Blazers 113-103 Wednesday night at Target Center.