Timberwolves at Wizards
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards came into the season with high expectations but are instead coming down the stretch outside of the top eight in their respective conferences. The Timberwolves will try to avoid a winless three-game road trip when they visit the Wizards on Sunday.
Minnesota's season went off the rails when Jimmy Butler demanded a trade in training camp and never really got back on track, though All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns is doing his best to drag the team toward wins. The 23-year-old Kentucky product is averaging 37.7 points and 18.7 rebounds in three games since returning from the concussion protocol, including 42 and 17 in Thursday's 122-115 setback at Indiana. The Wizards never really got going and battled injuries throughout the campaign, with All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal the lone constant. Beal collected 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on Friday at Boston but could not keep Washington from falling for the fifth time in six games.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (29-33): Minnesota allowed the Pacers to go 16-of-27 from beyond the arc in Thursday's setback and is allowing an average of 124.5 points over the last four games - three losses. "Getting multiple stops in a row - that's the key and it's different from last year," veteran forward Taj Gibson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "This year, it's getting stops late in games, count on your defense because late in the game, it's tough. ... Momentum can always change, but it comes down to, you've got to count on your defense, corral the ball, rebound the ball." Gibson recorded two steals and a block in 21 minutes off the bench against the Pacers.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (25-37): Washington is still trying to make a push up the standings in the East but sits in 11th place, four games behind eighth-place Charlotte after Friday's setback. The Wizards bemoaned the team's 18 turnovers on Friday that led to 24 points for the Celtics, including several key miscues down the stretch. "I thought turnovers were the difference," coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "I thought we actually played a really solid defensive game against a team that's loaded with a lot of talent and All-Star players. The turnovers, we gave them so many easy opportunities. We had a chance to maybe extend it after a tough start. The turnovers and we missed a lot of wide-open threes. It's a make or miss league at times and we have to take care of the ball, but I thought our guys fought and played hard in a tough environment."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Trevor Ariza is 5-of-24 from 3-point range in four games since the All-Star break.
2. Timberwolves PF Gorgui Dieng (personal) missed the last five games and there is no timetable for his return.
3. The visiting team took each of the two meetings last season, with Minnesota earning a 116-111 victory in Washington.