Western Conference coaches chose Phoenix's Shaquille O'Neal over Jefferson, even though he leads the veteran big man in scoring (22.7 to 18.2), rebounding (10.5 to 9.1) and minutes played (36.5 to 30.9).

This will be the 15th All-Star Game for O'Neal, 36.

It would have been the first for Jefferson, 24, who would have become the Wolves' first all-star since Kevin Garnett in 2006-07 and said after the team's midday practice that he was ready for the whole thing to be over.

"If I make it, I'm happy," he said. "If I don't make it, I'll just put it behind me and continue forward."

All-star reserves were announced Thursday evening on TNT. Fan voting determined the starters, who were previously announced.

In an effort to boost Jefferson's chances, the Wolves' public relations department sent out a promotional packet last week to each of the other 14 Western Conference coaches containing a foldout map featuring some of his notable performances and a GPS device complete with highlight video.

The Wolves also have been winning more games lately, with an NBA-best 10-2 record in January before Wednesday night's 98-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

In the end, it wasn't enough for Jefferson, who said he thought he had done everything he could on the court.

"Like I always say, if I don't make it, I'll just use it for motivation," he said. "Work hard and get there next year."

Wolves coach Kevin McHale, who called Love's exclusion from the rookie-sophomore game a travesty, said Jefferson had no reason to be upset or disappointed.

"I don't think anybody else voting on something should have any (bearing)," McHale said. "It's your opinion of yourself and your teammates' opinions of you. Like I've said all along, Al's played like an all-star. Al deserves to be an all-star. Whether or not he makes the team, that's up to somebody else."

Double trouble: The Wolves flunked the preliminary. Now it's time for the main events.

After letting an 11-point, third-quarter lead get away in the loss to the Pistons, the Wolves play their next two games against last year's NBA finalists.

Between tonight's game against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center and Sunday's road date against Garnett and the champion Boston Celtics, Jefferson said the next three days should be a barometer of how much better this team really is.

"We want to be ready to play," he said. "It's a good test for us. We're ready to take the challenge and see where we're at. We lost a game last night we should have won, so we can't come out in these next two games and play the way we did last night."

Telfair's absence felt: Point guard Sebastian Telfair played just 20 minutes against the Pistons because of a bruised right thigh, and McHale said even that might have been too much.

"Last night I felt bad," McHale said. "I called him up after the game because I said, 'Hey, I'm sorry for playing you at all.' He got kneed on the first play. When he's able to turn the corner and do some stuff, he gives us a whole other dimension. Poor Bassy couldn't turn the corner, and he was out there kind of dragging his leg around so hopefully he'll be better tomorrow."

With Kevin Ollie still recovering from a dislocated left elbow, Randy Foye is the only other option at point guard, and Love said the Wolves missed Telfair's speed Wednesday.

"He keeps us up-tempo; he keeps us moving," Love said. "Yesterday, even on the defensive end we were going slow down the court. ... We just need to keep turning it up. Bassy's a big part of this team."

Briefly: Tonight's game could be a sellout by tipoff, but as of Thursday afternoon 1,000 to 2,000 tickets still remained.