Suns at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have managed to stay surprisingly competitive over the past month despite a roster that has been decimated by injuries. A narrow loss in Utah on Friday capped an 0-3 road trip for Minnesota, which will make its fourth attempt to pick up its 30th win when it hosts the struggling Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The Timberwolves have won two of three meetings this season.
Phoenix snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 102-91 win in Dallas on Wednesday. A rare display of consistent 3-point shooting helped the Suns pick up their first victory since March 18 and rebound from a stunning loss to Houston one night earlier, when center Jermaine O'Neal was called for goaltending on a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Suns had won six straight in Minnesota until falling 111-107 at the Target Center on Dec. 29.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix), WFTC (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE SUNS (24-55): Point guard Goran Dragic had his second straight double-double with 21 points and 13 assists and finally got some help from backcourt mate Wes Johnson. The former No. 4 overall pick had failed to score in double digits in three straight games before busting loose for 17 pointts against the Mavericks. Johnson shot 7-of-13 overall and hit 3-of-8 3-pointers. “If I hit one, I feel like I’m hot,” Johnson said. “I felt like I could shoot anything and it was going in.”
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (29-50): Minnesota was forced to face Utah without center Nikola Pekovic, the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week. Pekovic is dealing with a left calf contusion and his availability for Saturday's game is in question. Compounding the injuries is a brutal schedule that will have the Timberwolves playing four games in five nights for the second time in 2 1/2 weeks and their eighth set of back-to-backs since March 12. "It makes no sense to me," coach Rick Adelman said.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pekovic's potential absence does not bode well for Minnesota, which is 8-35 when outrebounded.
2. The Suns rank 29th in 3-point shooting but knocked down 12-of-27 against the Mavericks.
3. The teams have split six meetings since March 1, 2012.