wolves gameday

7 P.M. VS. new york knicks • target ctr. • fsn, 830-AM

Preview: The Wolves have won six of seven games and are above .500 for the first time in more than a month. Coming off a 4-1 road trip, they now embark on a stretch in which they play the next four games and six of nine at home. The Knicks have lost seven in a row and 10 of their past 11.

Players to watch: : Wolves F Corey Brewer has shot 52.3 percent and averaged 14.0 points in his past 12 games. G Kevin Martin has scored 48 points in two games since his return from a thumb injury. C Nikola Pekovic has 36 points and 18 rebounds in two games since returning from bursitis in his ankle. F Kevin Love is the reigning Western Conference player of the week. He has scored 20 or more points and had 10 or more rebounds in 13 consecutive games. He has averaged 32.5 points and 20.5 rebounds in his past four games vs. the Knicks. New York F Carmelo Anthony is second in the league in scoring (28.0), and has averaged 24.8 points in his career vs. Minnesota. G/F J.R. Smith has scored in double figures in eight games in a row.

Numbers: The Wolves averaged 113.6 points per game during the recently-concluded five-game road trip, taking an average of 37.4 free throws per game. The team shot 46.2 percent during the trip after shooting 43.7 percent over the first 54 games. The Wolves are over .500 this late in the season for the first time since they finished the 2004-05 season 44-38.

Injuries: Knicks F/C Andrea Bargnani (elbow) and F Kenyon Martin (ankle) are out. Wolves F Ronny Turiaf (knee) is out.

kent youngblood