wolves gameday
7 P.M. VS. DETROIT • TARGET CENTER • FSN, 830-AM
Preview: The Pistons opened their season Wednesday as well, with an 89-79 loss at Denver. The Wolves catch a break because big man Greg Monroe is suspended for the season's first two games after he pleaded guilty last month to driving while visibly impaired. Without him, the Pistons are expected to start Kyle Singler alongside Josh Smith and Andre Drummond. … Former Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy is now running the show in Detroit. He was hired as both coach and basketball operations boss last summer. … The Wolves swept the Pistons series 2-0 last season. They finish this season's series Feb. 8 at Detroit.
Players to watch: With Monroe out, really watch out for third-year center Drummond, a member of the United States' World Cup gold-medal team last summer who ranked second in the NBA in rebounds (13.2) and field-goal percentage (62.3) and first in offensive rebounds (5.4) last season. … Pistons second-year guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whom the Wolves coveted in the 2013 draft, missed most of the preseason because of a strained knee but was set to begin the season as a backcourt starter alongside point guard Brandon Jennings.
Numbers: The Wolves were 4-17 in the final game of back-to-back games last season and ended the season by losing their last 11.
Injuries: Monroe and G Jodie Meeks (lower back) are out for Detroit and G Cartier Martin (foot) is questionable. Wolves C Ronny Turiaf (hip soreness) and G Kevin Martin (ankle) missed Wednesday's opener and are questionable.
JERRY ZGODA
