Wolves gameday
7 p.m. vs. Denver • Target Center • FSN, 830-AM
Preview: The Timberwolves have lost two in a row and six of their past seven. The past two losses were both on the road, including an overtime loss to the Nuggets in Denver on Friday in a game the Wolves led by 18 in the third quarter. The Nuggets, who broke a five-game home losing streak with that victory, have won four of five games after beating Houston at home 114-108 on Monday night. Two of those victories came on the road.
Players to watch: Wolves G Zach LaVine is coming off a season-high 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting at Phoenix. F/G Andrew Wiggins scored 13 points, but his eight shots were a season low. Denver F Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points vs. the Wolves on Friday, including nine of the Nuggets' 11 OT points. Backup G Jameer Nelson took over for the injured Emmanuel Mudiay on Friday and ignited Denver's comeback by scoring 12 of his 20 points in the third quarter.
Numbers: The 43 points Phoenix scored off 25 Wolves turnovers Sunday marks the second-highest total allowed by the Wolves in the past 20 years, approaching the 47 points Golden State scored in 2009. The 33-point differential in points off turnovers Sunday (43-10) marked the highest differential in the NBA in 20 years. … The Nuggets are 5-7 on the road, while the Wolves are 3-9 at home. … Friday's victory marked the 12th time in team history that the Nuggets had rebounded from a halftime deficit of 15 or more points to win.
Injuries: For the first time since April surgery on his Achilles' tendon, Wolves C Nikola Pekovic took part in 5-on-0 drills in practice, but he remains out. For Denver, Darrell Arthur (right knee), Mudiay (right ankle), Wilson Chandler (hip surgery) and Jusuf Nurkic (knee) all didn't play Monday.
Kent Youngblood
