Timberwolves at Kings
THE STORY: The Sacramento Kings are coming off one of their top performances of the campaign and the Minnesota Timberwolves are struggling without point guard Ricky Rubio. Sacramento routed the Boston Celtics 120-95 on Friday to snap a three-game losing skid and improve to 3-3 on a nine-game homestand. Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday to drop to 1-3 since Rubio was lost with a season-ending knee injury. The Timberwolves are 2-0 against the Kings.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Comcast SportsNet (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (22-23): Minnesota slipped below .500 with the loss to the Lakers and has lost some of its pizzazz since losing Rubio, even though Luke Ridnour has averaged 13.5 points and 10.8 assists in the four games without Rubio. Ridnour also didn’t commit a single turnover against Los Angeles. But Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman senses some issues with four games remaining on a crucial seven-game road trip. “We’ve got to play with more urgency,” Adelman said. “If you want to be in the playoff race, you’ve got to go out and play like you really want to stay in it.”
ABOUT THE KINGS (15-29): Guard Marcus Thornton scored a season-best 36 points and forward Jason Thompson had 21 points and 15 rebounds in Sacramento’s dominating 120-95 victory over Boston. The Kings notched a season-high for points scored, recorded a season-best 29 assists and had a 45-28 rebounding edge. Thornton connected on five 3-pointers in a stunning turnaround after scoring just nine points in back-to-back games. Thornton averages a team-leading 18.5 points. Thompson also had 21 points and 15 rebounds in the previous contest and is 19-for-23 shooting over the last two games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. This is the first meeting in Sacramento after the Timberwolves notched home wins over the Kings on Jan. 16 and Feb. 7.
2. Minnesota forward Michael Beasley (toe) is expected back after sitting out two consecutive games.
3. Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans (ankle) missed the win over Boston and is questionable.