Nuggets at Timberwolves
THE STORY: Trying to stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss to one nemesis when they face another foe that has tormented them in recent seasons. Following Friday's double-overtime defeat at Oklahoma City – their 11th straight loss to the Thunder – the Timberwolves return home Saturday night to take on the Denver Nuggets, who have won eight consecutive meetings in Minnesota.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ALT, FSNO
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (26-22): Denver was pounded by Utah on Friday night in the opener of its seven-game road trip and sits in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Western Conference. The loss was exacerbated by the ejection of guard Arron Afflalo, who was whistled for a flagrant foul for elbowing Gordon Hayward and could be facing a one-game suspension. Afflalo is averaging 19.0 points in his last four games. “It was a bad play on my part,” Afflalo said.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (23-26): Shorthanded and playing the finale of a seven-game road trip, Minnesota turned in a gritty performance in a double-overtime loss to the Thunder. Kevin Love set a franchise record with a career-high 51 points. Love hit a tying 3-pointer with one second left in regulation and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Backup point guard J.J. Barea also reached a milestone with his first career triple-double, scoring 25 points to go with 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Denver has won 17 of the past 18 meetings. The Timberwolves haven't beaten Denver in Minnesota since Feb. 14, 2007.
2. Love's previous career high was 43 points - against the Nuggets on Dec. 18, 2010.
3. Minnesota starting center Nikola Pekovic (ankles) has missed the past two games.