6:30 p.m. at Boston TD Garden • FSN, 830-AM
Wolves now get big road test
Preview: The Wolves, winners of three of their past four games, are 6-2 since the All-Star Game break and 17-13 in their past 30. In the last week they have beaten the L.A. Clippers (fifth in the Western Conference), Golden State (first in the West) and Washington (third in the East). But they also lost to Milwaukee on the road. Now the team has to prove it has improved to the point that it can beat an elite team on the road. The Celtics are second in the East, two games behind Cleveland. Boston is 22-9 at home and has won nine straight at TD Garden. The Wolves have lost 10 straight in Boston, last winning there in March of 2005.
Players to watch: Wolves C Karl-Anthony Towns has scored 74 points with 27 rebounds in his past two games. PG Ricky Rubio is coming off a 22-point, franchise-record 19-assist game vs. Washington. He has scored 20 points in consecutive games for the second time in his career. Boston G Isiah Thomas is averaging 29.2 points per game, second in the league. He had 20 of his 29 points in the second half in Boston's 99-93 victory in Minneapolis Nov. 21, a game the Wolves led by 13 in the fourth quarter. G Avery Bradley is averaging 16.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Injuries: Wolves G Zach LaVine (knee surgery) is out. Boston G/F James Young (lower back) is questionable.
KENT YOUNGBLOOD
