Wolves Gameday
7 P.M. VS. Atlanta • Target Center • FSN, 830-am
Preview: Having finally broken through with a home victory Monday, the Wolves will try to make it two in a row against an Atlanta team that had lost four of five before crushing Boston 121-97 in a home game Tuesday night. This will end the season series between the two teams; the Wolves' 117-107 victory in Atlanta on Nov. 9 was one of Minnesota's stranger wins of the season. Minnesota built a 34-point lead, only to see it disappear. The Wolves fell behind in the fourth quarter, but an 11-0 run to end the game gave Minnesota the victory.
Players to watch: Wolves G/F Andrew Wiggins is coming off a 32-point performance against Philadelphia on Monday, one in which he scored 15 fourth-quarter points. Wiggins has the top four scoring games of the season for the Wolves. His 32 points were one fewer than the other four Wolves starters combined. Rookie C Karl-Anthony Towns is coming off perhaps his worst game. His six points matched a career low, as did his three baskets. His two rebounds were his lowest total. It was the first time in 10 games Towns hadn't scored in double figures. PG Ricky Rubio has averaged 10 assists over his past three games. … Hawks G Jeff Teague had 24 points and nine assists vs. Minnesota on Nov. 9. F Paul Milsap had 22 points and six assists.
Numbers: The Wolves are 6-4 with Ricky Rubio in the lineup, 0-4 without him. The Wolves won in Atlanta on Nov. 9 despite the Hawks shooting 51.2 percent. … Wiggins has averaged 10.1 points in his past four fourth quarters.
Injuries: Wolves C Nikola Pekovic (Achilles' tendon surgery) is out. F Nemanja Bjelica (knee), who has missed two games, is questionable. … Entering Tuesday's game, the Hawks listed F Kent Bazemore (ankle) and F Tiago Splitter (hip) as out. G/F Kyle Korver (ankle), G Thabo Sefolosha (ankle) and G Jeff Teague were listed as probable.
kent youngblood
