Timberwolves at Bucks
THE STORY: The nice thing about the NBA's compacted schedule is that a team will have a chance to bounce back from a defeat almost immediately. Of course, the opposite outlook is that the lack of practice time will prevent teams from being able to correct those mistakes that lead to losses. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to bounce back from close losses when they meet in Milwaukee on Tuesday. The Timberwolves welcomed highly touted Spanish guard Ricky Rubio to the team and gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a challenge on Monday, showing off the young nucleus they hope can lead the team back to the playoffs. The Bucks squandered a double-digit halftime lead and were dominated on the glass in a one-point loss at Charlotte in their Monday opener.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (0-1): Minnesota does not have big expectations for this season but it does have some excitement because of Rubio and No. 2 overall draft pick Derrick Williams joining Kevin Love and Michael Beasley. Rubio showed off his passing skills with six assists Monday while Love and Beasley combined for 46 points and 17 rebounds. The problem, as it was last season, is on the defensive end, where the Timberwolves could not get a stop at the end of the game and lost 104-100.
ABOUT THE BUCKS (0-1): Milwaukee’s big problem last season was scoring and field goal percentage, ranking last in the NBA in each category. The Bucks’ big off-season acquisition was swingman Mike Dunleavy, who scored 13 points on 3-of-12 shooting in the 96-95 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Stephen Jackson - another new addition - will also be counted on to provide offense for Milwaukee but managed only six points on 1-of-5 shooting against the Bobcats and fouled out in just over 17 minutes.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Milwaukee has taken three of the last four in the series, including the last two at home.
2. Bucks forward Drew Gooden was ejected for a flagrant foul against Charlotte.
3. Minnesota coach Rick Adelman will miss Tuesday’s game to attend a family funeral.