Pistons at Timberwolves
THE STORY: If the Detroit Pistons can’t earn a win, at least they can hope for less stressful trip. After having to make an emergency landing due to a mechanical problem on the way to Houston on Monday night, the Pistons responded with a less-than-stellar effort in a 97-80 loss to the Rockets. Detroit ranks last in the NBA in scoring and rebounding and has dropped eight of its last nine games. The Pistons will be attempting to reach the century mark for the first time when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Timberwolves are no longer a team that gives up 100 points on a regular basis and have surrendered an average of 86.3 points in their last three games. Double-double machine Kevin Love has been joined in the starting lineup by rookie point guard Ricky Rubio over the last three games, leading to a pair of wins.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSNO (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (3-11): News of Detroit’s team charter making an emergency landing (everyone was OK) made more waves in the sports world than anything the team has accomplished on the floor so far in 2011-12. New coach Lawrence Frank is still tinkering with his lineup, now starting Ben Gordon and Ben Wallace and bringing Rodney Stuckey and Jonas Jerebko off the bench. Jerebko struggled to 2-of-8 shooting in the loss and Wallace went scoreless.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (5-8): Love was named to the USA Olympic Team’s list of 20 finalists for this summer’s Games, meaning he could potentially line up across from Spaniard Rubio in London. For now, the two are doing just fine as teammates. Love became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1992 to start the season with 13 straight double-doubles and he has gone over 30 points in each of the last three contests. Rubio has averaged 9.7 assists in three games as a starter.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Timberwolves have until Jan. 25 to sign Love to a max contract extension.
2. Minnesota took both meetings last season while averaging 112.5 points.
3. Detroit C Greg Monroe shot 2 of 9 from the floor Tuesday, marking just the third time in 14 games he has failed to hit at least half of his shots.