Scoring is not the only solution.

That’s the message for Timberwolves second-year forward Anthony Bennett and other young players who believe shooting is the best way to affect a game.

“That’s the biggest thing for them to overcome mentally: making shots is part of the game, but it’s not the main part,” Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.

Instead, Saunders has implored Bennett to be consistently aggressive, communicate efficiently, rebound with grit and play solid defense.

“We need someone that does dirty work for us,” Saunders said. “We have a lot of guys that are more finesse-type players. We need some dirty-work-type players.”

Bennett, who is averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, can be that guy, Saunders said. In the meantime, Bennett has seen his recent playing time fluctuate from 16 minutes in Tuesday’s 100-94 loss to Utah to six minutes in Saturday’s 110-97 loss to Golden State.

“He’s been a yo-yo at times,” Saunders said. “He’s come out in games and has had great energy, and he’s come out and not had as much energy. As a coach, especially with a young team, you are looking for consistency.”

The Wolves (5-25) had lost nine straight entering Thursday night’s game against Sacramento; not having players who can be counted on nightly has been a main culprit.

Two players — Shabazz Muhammad and Thaddeus Young — can be leaned on, Saunders said. He said the goal is to have six or seven steady producers.

“What you want to be able to do is when you look at your box score, you can get this from this guy and this from this guy, and right now we have two guys,” Saunders said.

When reserve power forward Bennett subs in for starter Young, it often comes with a message from the veteran.

“Every time he checks into the game, I try to give him some words of confidence,” Young said.

Young said that includes attention to little things like dribble handoffs and having the awareness to move to an open spot on the court when the defender drifts.

“I think the small things are what’s going to get you the most points,” Young said.

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/twolvesnow.