Timberwolves at Magic
THE STORY: The glow of Minnesota's three-game winning streak has
faded with three straight losses. The Timberwolves' problems could
continue with a trip to Orlando on Monday, which has won five of seven.
Minnesota must shake off Saturday's 100-98 home loss to New York in
which it couldn't hold a seven-point lead midway through the fourth
quarter. Jason Richardson scored a season-high 31 points and hit nine
3-pointers in Orlando's 99-94 victory in Milwaukee on Saturday. The
veteran guard scored 28 points in the second half.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North (Timberwolves), FS Florida (Magic)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (13-15):
Darko Milicic could return after missing five games with a sprained
right ankle, but he might have a tough time getting his job back. Center
Nikola Pekovic scored 21 points with a career-high 13 rebounds
Saturday. He has five double-doubles this season, all in the last 10
games. While Kevin Love had a monster game against the Knicks with 32
points and 21 rebounds, point guard Ricky Rubio is struggling. He has
gone three straight games without recording 10 assists for only the
second time in his rookie season.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (17-11): It is not often Orlando wins when Dwight
Howard has a sub-par game, but it happened Saturday. Howard scored 11
points, missing 10 of 15 shots from the field, and had 14 rebounds,
below his season totals in both categories. Howard is averaging 20.6
points and 15.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, he lost the head-to-head matchup
with Bucks undersized center Drew Gooden, who scored 21 points. This
could all add up to bad news for the Timberwolves. Howard is averaging
22.7 points and 17.7 rebounds in 17 home games this season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Minnesota is 6-5 on the road and is the only sub-.500 team in the league with a winning record away from home.
2.
Magic point guard Jameer Nelson is shooting 19 for 52 from the field in
four games after missing five games with a concussion.
3.
Orlando has beaten Minnesota six consecutive times. The Timberwolves
haven't defeated the Magic since April 11, 2008, a 102-101 win in
Orlando.