6:30 p.m. vs. Brooklyn • Barclays Center • FSN, 830-AM
Nets lost 8 of past 10 games
Preview: The Wolves are coming off back-to-back, wire-to-wire victories over injury-riddled teams Indiana and the Lakers. Minnesota has won seven of eight games and is 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2003-04 season. This is the first of two straight road games against Eastern Conference opponents before a five-game homestand. Still, the schedule includes some challenges, including a game at Boston on Friday. And that five-game homestand includes games against New Orleans, Cleveland, Oklahoma City and Portland. The Nets beat Orlando on Monday night, but Brooklyn has lost eight of its past 10.
Players to watch: Wolves G Jimmy Butler is coming off a 28-point, nine-assist performance against the Lakers. He has been the team's top scorer in seven of the past eight games, averaging 28.8 points in that stretch. C Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 3.2 blocks in his past five games. He had a double-double Monday despite being limited to 27 minutes by foul trouble. F Andrew Wiggins matched his season high with nine rebounds vs. the Lakers and had four assists to go with 21 points. The Nets are led by F Rondae Hillis-Jefferson (15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds), F DeMarre Carroll (12.6, 6.8) and G Spencer Dinwiddie (12.5 points, 6.5 assists).
Numbers: The Wolves are 5-1 in their past six road games, but enter a two-game stretch against the Nets and Boston just 4-8 vs. Eastern Conference teams. The Wolves are 21-4 when they shoot 45 percent or better and 21-6 when leading after three quarters.
Injuries: Wolves G Jeff Teague (knee) is out. Nets guards D'Angelo Russell (left knee surgery) and Jeremy Lin (ruptured patella tendon) are out.
Kent Youngblood
