76ers at Timberwolves
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to prove they belong among the elite teams in the NBA. Dropping their last four games to winning teams is not helping. The 76ers shot just 33.7 percent and scored 24 points in the second half in an 82-75 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, and now head back out for a four-game road trip. The first stop is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are on the verge of becoming one of those winning teams that has caused problems for Philadelphia. The Timberwolves have simply outscored their last two opponents, averaging 106.5 points in back-to-back victories.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TCN (Philadelphia), FSNO (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (20-11): Philadelphia has victories under its belt this season against the likes of Chicago, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers. It just also happens that the majority of the 76ers’ 11 setbacks have come against the teams they will be competing against in the spring. The most crushing of the last four losses came Wednesday at Orlando, when the vaunted defense let Philadelphia down in a 103-87 loss to an Eastern Conference contender. The 76ers have not scored 100 points since Jan. 23 and had only one starter – Andre Iguodala with 10 points – reach double figures against the Mavericks.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (15-16): Minnesota has shot 53.1 percent in its last two games. Nikola Pekovic has emerged as a strong complement to Kevin Love on the inside. Pekovic has recorded a double-double in four straight games and seven of 10 this month. He went off for a career-high 30 points in Friday’s 111-98 win at Houston. Love, meanwhile, has averaged 28.5 points and 17.8 boards over the last four. After allowing more than 100 points in three straight games, at least Minnesota has managed to keep the Rockets and the Charlotte Bobcats under the century mark in the last two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Philadelphia PG Jrue Holiday is 1 for 17 from the floor in the last two games.
2. Love has put up 13.6 points and 11.0 rebounds in five career games against the 76ers.
3. Philadelphia has taken three straight in the series.