wolves gameday

8:30 P.M. at NEW ORLEANS • SMOOTHIE KING CENTER • ESPN, 830-AM

Preview: Can you say streaky? Winners 105-100 over Atlanta at home on Wednesday, the injury-plagued Pelicans have won six of their nine games after losing eight in a row before that. One of those losses in their recent 6-3 stretch was an 88-77 loss to the Timberwolves at Target Center on Jan. 29. That's the fewest points the Pelicans have scored this season … The Wolves did not practice Thursday after playing games back-to-back days. Kevin Love's status will be determined at the Friday morning shootaround or pregame warm-ups. He pulled himself from Wednesday's 106-97 loss at Oklahoma City about 20 minutes before the opening tip because his neck, whiplashed from a nasty fall in Tuesday's game, was too stiff to play … This is the last of this season's three-game series. The Wolves are 2-0 so far, winning 123-112 at Target Center on New Year's Day night and then winning again in Minneapolis nearly a month later … Please note: The game is a 8:30 p.m. start because it is part of ESPN's Friday night doubleheader.

Players to watch: Pelicans second-year F Anthony Davis leads the league in blocked shots with a 2.5 average per game and is coming off a 27-point, 10-rebound performance in Wednesday's victory over Atlanta. He has had nine blocks in one game and 19 rebounds in another earlier this season … Second-year PG Brian Roberts is starting for injured star Jrue Holiday and tied his career scoring high with 19 points (and six assists) on Wednesday … Wolves SF Corey Brewer is expected to rejoin the team for Friday's game after he missed Wednesday's game at Oklahoma City to remain in Minneapolis with newborn son Sebastian.

Injuries: Love is questionable because of that stiff neck. Wolves C Nikola Pekovic (ankle bursitis) is listed as out. Pelicans F Ryan Anderson (herniated disc), G Jrue Holiday (leg stress fracture) and G Jason Smith (knee) are listed as out. G Tyreke Evans (ribs) did not play Wednesday and is called day-to-day.

JERRY ZGODA