wolves gameday
6 P.M. at Toronto • Air canada centre • fsn, 830-am
Preview: The Timberwolves, losers of three of their past four games, will try to bounce back from yet another close loss — their second consecutive setback — against the Raptors, who had a three-game winning streak ended at Boston on Wednesday. The good news? The Wolves are 8-2 this season in games following defeats by four or fewer points. The bad news? The Wolves have lost nine games in a row in Toronto.
Players to watch: Wolves F Kevin Love is coming off a 27-point, 11-rebound performance against Sacramento, his first 20-plus point effort in four games. SG Kevin Martin is 8-for-26 in his past two games. G Ricky Rubio hasn't had 10 assists in his past five games. … Raptors G DeMar DeRozan averaged 23.5 points in two games vs. the Wolves last season. G Kyle Lowry has scored in double figures in all but four games this season.
Numbers: Toronto coach Dwane Casey — the former Wolves coach — has his team 13-6 since Rudy Gay was traded to Sacramento on Dec. 8. Toronto has won a season-high five consecutive home games, and that includes a 95-82 Jan. 1 victory over Indiana, the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference. … The Wolves have not been three games under .500 this season.
Injuries: Raptors F/C Tyler Hansbrough (ankle) is questionable.
kent youngblood
