Timberwolves at Pistons
After taking out one of the top teams in the NBA, the streaking Detroit Pistons begin a softer portion of their schedule when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Timberwolves are the first of six straight teams the Pistons will face with a .500 record or worse, and will be taking on a rested squad that is coming off a thrilling 112-107 overtime win over Toronto on Sunday.
"It's the same team. We're doing the same things," Detroit coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "Consistency in our league is just like patience. People lose patience and give up on a team. If you're working on the right fundamentals, you're trying to have the right mindset and it clicks in, good things happen. That's what's happening now." The Pistons have won nine of 11 contests to get back to .500 for the first time since they were 16-16, and they are tied with Brooklyn for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Minnesota is trying to stay afloat in the Western Conference race as it managed to snap an ill-timed three-game slide with Tuesday's 131-120 win over Oklahoma City. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 41 points and 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves pulled within 5 1/5 games of eighth-place San Antonio.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (30-34): Towns is averaging 36.4 points on 60.4 percent shooting and 16 rebounds in five games since returning from a layoff following a car accident. "(After the All-Star break) I just wanted to come with a playoff intensity every single game," Towns said during a postgame television interview. "Unfortunately, I couldn't play the first two games from All-Star due to things I can't control, but when I came back, I wanted to play with that intensity, that passion, that drive." The 23-year-old, who moved into fifth place on the franchise's all-time scoring list in Tuesday's win, was held to 16 points while missing all seven of his 3-point attempts in an overtime loss to Detroit earlier this season.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (31-31): Detroit's surge largely has coincided with increased offensive production from Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard, the latter of whom has made 11-of-16 3-pointers over his last two games. Meanwhile, All-Star forward Blake Griffin continues to shine as he recorded a team-high 27 points in the win over Toronto, which could go a long way toward defining this team in April and - perhaps - beyond. "In the beginning of the season, we were winning close games and we were winning despite what we were doing," Griffin told reporters on Sunday. "And now we're winning close games because of what we're doing. And that's a good sign. This is the time to be doing that. Hopefully, we can carry that over into the playoffs."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Jackson has gone 17-for-25 from the floor -- including 7-for-9 from beyond the arc -- over his last two games.
2. Minnesota's starting five hit 11-of-19 3-pointers against Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
3. The Pistons have won seven consecutive meetings.