Preview: The Wolves ended a five-game losing streak -- tied for the longest this season -- with a victory Saturday over Houston at Target Center. Now they will try to end a four-game road losing streak in Atlanta, where the Wolves have lost nine in a row. Atlanta is struggling, having lost two in a row, four of five and eight of its past 10, dropping to 22-18 after a 20-10 start.
Players to watch: Wolves guard Luke Ridnour has scored 37 points in his past two games on combined 15-for-30 shooting (4-for-9 on three-pointers). F/C Chris Johnson scored a career-high 15 points Saturday, hours after signing a 10-day contract. F Andrei Kirilenko has shot 18-for-32 (56.3 percent) in his past three games, averaging 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in that time.
Numbers: The Wolves have won 14 of their past 17 games played on Martin Luther King Day. Atlanta ranks sixth in the NBA in points allowed (95.5) and just three opponents have shot 50 percent or better against the Hawks this season. Atlanta also forces 15.4 turnovers a game, sixth-most in the NBA.
Injuries: Wolves F Kevin Love (hand surgery), F Chase Budinger (knee surgery), G Malcolm Lee (hip and knee surgery), C Nikola Pekovic (quad contusion), G Brandon Roy (right knee) and G Alexey Shved (sprained left ankle) are out. F Dante Cunningham (illness) is probable. Atlanta G/F Anthony Morrow (hip) and G/F DeShawn Stevenson (right knee) will be game-time decisions. G Devin Harris (left ankle) is questionable and G Lou Williams (torn right ACL) is out.
KENT YOUNGBLOOD
