Pistons at Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to build off one of their best efforts of the season and continue home-court success when they host the struggling Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves scored their most points in a win and dished out a season-high 37 assists as they took advantage of road-weary Sacramento to post a 132-105 victory on Monday, improving to 12-4 at the Target Center.
Nine Minnesota players scored in double figures and four reserves, plus Robert Covington, put together the decisive spurt to start the second quarter as the Timberwolves finished with a 30-point lead at halftime. “Man, that was an amazing run to go on,” Covington told the Star Tribune. “Guys just came in and did their job. That second unit’s been great all season. (Monday) it was on another level.” The Pistons attempt to extend their winning streak against the Timberwolves to seven games, but they will need to find their elusive top form to post a victory in Minnesota for the fourth straight visit after losing seven of the last eight games overall. Leading scorer Blake Griffin recorded his first triple-double of the season (19 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) on Monday, but also had 10 turnovers and told reporters after the 107-104 loss to Milwaukee: “I feel bad for these guys because they played so hard and got us back in the game. I wasn’t there for them tonight.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-14): Griffin scored at least 26 points in five straight games before Monday’s 4-of-13 effort from the field and averages a team-high 25.4 points to go along with 9.1 rebounds. Center Andre Drummond strung together six straight double-doubles to place third in the league with 23 overall and leads the NBA in rebounding (15.5 per game). Guard Reggie Bullock stepped up with a team-high 24 points in the loss to Milwaukee and drained 9-of-17 from 3-point range the past two games after missing the previous five contests with an ankle injury.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (14-16): Rookie guard Josh Okogie played his most minutes (28) in more than a month Monday and contributed 10 points, three assists, three rebounds and a pair of steals. “Everyone has that guy that brings the best out of everyone, and Josh is that guy for us,” leading scorer Karl-Anthony Towns (21.4) told reporters. “When he comes in the game and plays that way every single time, it reinvigorates all of us.” Okogie got more minutes with Jeff Teague (left ankle inflammation) out and the veteran point guard is questionable for Wednesday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Detroit SF Stanley Johnson scored 20 points on Monday, reaching double figures for the first time since Dec. 1.
2. Minnesota SF Andrew Wiggins is averaging 19.4 points in December, more the three above his season mark.
3. Pistons SG Luke Kennard connected on just 1-of-7 from the field Monday after making all four of his attempts against Boston on Saturday.