Greg Smith's audition with Timberwolves will continue

All Greg Smith wanted was another chance at the NBA. It's all he thought about while rehabbing his knee. He'll get the final 12 games of the Timberwolves season to further state his case that he should be back again in 2016-17.

Smith, who just finished his second 10-day contract with the Wolves, was signed by the team for the rest of the season. To Smith, it's a reward for all the work he has put in.

"I'm just glad for the opportunity to play here for the rest of the year," he said. "And, hopefully, next year.''

Smith, a 6-10 center, signed a 10-day contract with the Wolves on March 2. He was signed to a second 10-day deal on March 12, getting the news just as he was packing to leave town. He got word that he'd be around until the season finale before Tuesday's practice.

Smith played in 131 games for two teams over four seasons at the start of his career. But a knee injury two years ago — one that ultimately required surgery — derailed him for a bit. It wasn't until this season, he said, that it felt right. And then he had to figure out a way to let everyone else know. Still, he wasn't playing anywhere when the 2015-16 season started.

"From training camp to January, I was back home working out," he said. "And all the time it became, 'Will I get back? Will I play anywhere?' "

Ultimately, a stint in the Development League got Smith in better shape while getting the word out that he was healthy. Though he had to deal with a painful ingrown toenail during his first 10-day stint, Smith was averaging 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 10.3 minutes per game.

One of them was, potentially, crucial. With the Wolves trailing by two points, Golden State's Draymond Green missed a shot with 35 seconds left. In the scramble for the rebound after that miss, Golden State's Harrison Barnes got away with grabbing Andrew Wiggins' jersey, affecting Wiggins' ability to secure the rebound.

Why is this such a big non-call? Wiggins did get the rebound, after all. Well, the foul would have sent Wiggins to the line for two free throws. Instead, with 16 seconds left, Wiggins missed a heavily-contested 18-footer. The Warriors got the rebound and Minnesota was forced to foul; Stephen Curry made two free throws with 13 seconds left to push Golden State's lead to four.

The other two mistakes? They came earlier in the same possession. First, Green should have been called for an illegal screen with 46.6 seconds left. Then, with 40.2 seconds left, Green got away with moving his pivot foot on a shot. He missed the shot, creating the rebound that created the officials' most crucial mistake.

• Part of the $128.9 million renovation of Target Center will be the installation of the largest center-hung arena scoreboard in the Upper Midwest, the Timberwolves and Lynx announced Wednesday.