Gameday preview: Dallas at Wolves
December 30, 2013 at 3:11AM
7 P.M. vs. Dallas • Target Center • FSN, 830-AM
Preview: The Wolves, back to .500 after winning both ends of a back-to-back, now have three straight and five of their next six at home. The Wolves moved up to ninth in the Western Conference after Saturday's win, two games behind the No. 8 Mavericks. Dallas is coming off a thrashing of the Bulls on Saturday, the team's second consecutive road victory. Dallas won at Houston last Monday.
Players to watch: Kevin Love has scored 25 or more points in 10 consecutive games, the league's longest such streak. G Ricky Rubio had six steals in Milwaukee, his league-leading fifth game with five or more. G Kevin Martin has scored 59 points in two victories vs. the Mavs this season. Dallas G Monta Ellis has scored 18 or more points in six straight games. F Dirk Nowitzki has averaged 22.3 points his past seven games.
Numbers: The Wolves have won both meetings between the two teams and six of the past nine. The Wolves haven't won three straight vs. the Mavs since the 1996-97 season.
Injuries: Wolves F Chase Budinger (knee) and C Ronny Turiaf (elbow) are out. F Kevin Love took a knee to his thigh in the third period Saturday but should be OK. Dallas G Wayne Ellington (illness) is day to day. G Devin Harris (left foot surgery) is out.
Kent Youngblood
about the writer
The “sticky” ball that coach Chris Finch so deplores showed up for the first game, after a preseason when offense happened smoothly. On defense, “resistance” was missing, the coach said.
