By By Paul Imig, Special to OnMilwaukee.com   Published Oct 23, 2010 at 10:09 AM

For Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles, it was the first time seeing the affect that the NBA's new technical foul rule can have on a game.

In Friday's preseason finale at the Bradley Center, five total technical fouls were called. Some had players on both benches laughing.

While four were called on the Minnesota Timberwolves, the sole Milwaukee technical came when Bucks forward Drew Gooden stood up from the bench to celebrate what he thought was a blocked shot by teammate Andrew Bogut.

However, the officials had called a foul on the play and served Gooden with a technical for his reaction.

"I've been watching the other games and seeing these kinds of things called," Skiles said. "We haven't been in a game like this yet. I'm not sure why. It's just something everybody's got to get used to. It's part of the game now. I certainly don't fault Drew for that reaction he made. He got caught and they gave him a technical."

On Minnesota's sideline, the players were unable to contain themselves as they laughed at the referees' decisions to assess the frequent technical fouls.

Corey Brewer was whistled as he made his way to the bench during a stretch late in the third quarter when officials called four technical fouls in just over two minutes.

"I didn't get an explanation," Brewer said. "I don't know how I got the tech because I was way at the end of the bench."

Standing next to Brewer at his locker, teammate Kevin Love reminded Brewer of his only comment prior to receiving the technical foul.

"Yeah, I said 'Ball don't lie," Brewer recalled.

Love added that Brewer was walking away from the officials and to the sideline when he said it.

Several Timberwolves players began discussing which of the technical fouls was the least egregious.

"How about Drew Gooden getting one for standing up?" one player yelled.

Minnesota forward Michael Beasley, who began the string of consecutive technical fouls after arguing a call, is attempting to adjust to the new rule.

"We can't say what we used to, we can't express ourselves like we used to," Beasley said. "We've just got to learn and get used to it."

Maggette can get to the free throw line: Corey Maggette made his debut for the Bucks on Friday and promptly backed up the reputation that preceded him.

Maggette, the 12th year forward acquired this off-season from Golden State, has averaged more than seven free throw attempts per game throughout his career.

Against Minnesota, the 30-year-old was 17 of 20 from the free throw line in less than 14 minutes on the floor.

In fact, all of Maggette's points came from the line. He was 0-for-2 from the field.

"It's a unique skill," Bucks guard Keyon Dooling said of Maggette. "It's something that he does better than 95 percent of our league. It's awesome because when he comes in the game he gives our team a chance to be in the penalty and then that opens it up to everybody."

Maggette subbed in at the 7:16 mark of the first quarter and was already 7-for-8 from the free throw line when he exited just five minutes later.

"He does a good job of putting the pressure on the defense," Dooling said. "There's going to be some contact. He understands the rules of the game, so if a player is sliding when they make contact, in our league the offensive player gets free motion. That's a big emphasis on our game. He's got a unique niche."

Bogut acknowledged that Maggette's foul-drawing ability should help address an area of weakness for the Bucks.

"That's why we got him," Bogut said. "We struggled getting to the line last season, and he brings that."

Ridnour returns: Luke Ridnour played his first game back in Milwaukee since signing a four-year contract with the Timberwolves this summer, and he certainly made the most of his return.

The former Bucks point guard connected on a three-point shot to force overtime, then sank three free throws in the extra period to give Minnesota a 119-118 win.

With the Timberwolves, Ridnour is back in a similar situation to the one he was in a year ago when expectations were low for his team heading into the season.

"No one is expecting much of us," Ridnour said. "There's no pressure. We think we're better than what people say. It's just like last year. No one thought much of it and we came out and found a way to make the playoffs with a great record.

"I wish (the Bucks) all the luck and I think they're going to have a great season and I hope we can do the same thing."