Gameday preview: Wolves vs. Detroit

May 11, 2021 at 1:54AM
Minnesota Timberwolves guard D'Angelo Russell (0) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes during an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King) ORG XMIT: MERafb653b984d9fa7dc22d71f629d4c
Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell drove on Pistons guard Killian Hayes in a Dec. 23, 2020 game at Target Center. (Andy Clayton-King, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

6 p.m. at Detroit • Little Caesars Arena • BSN-Plus, no radio

Casey coaching depleted Pistons

Wolves preview: It is a streaky series. The Wolves won the past two meetings with Detroit, which won eight in a row before that; and before that, the Wolves won 10 in a row. … Chris Finch is 14-23 since taking over as coach for Ryan Saunders, who was 7-24. … C Karl-Anthony Teams leads the team in scoring (24.9) and rebounding (10.6) … With a win, the Wolves would hamper their lottery chances. At 21-47, they are tied for the league's fourth worst record. … F Juancho Hernangómez (quad) is doubtful and G Malik Beasley (hamstring) and G Jarrett Culver (ankle surgery) are out.

Pistons preview: At 20-49, Detroit has the worst record in the Eastern Conference under former Wolves coach Dwane Casey. … The Pistons hold a 31-30 lead in the all-time series. … Leading scorer F Jerami Grant (22.3) is questionable because of a sore knee. … Rookie G Saddiq Bey (Villanova) has 164 three-pointers. … G Wayne Ellington (calf), F Josh Jackson (tooth surgery), Hamidou Diallo (health protocols), G Cory Joseph (ankle), G Rodney McGruder (elbow) and G Dennis Smith Jr. (knee) are out.

Chris Miller

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Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly speaks during a press conference to introduce the team's 2022 NBA draft selections Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Target Center in Minneapolis. ]