Wolves gameday

8 p.m. vs. New Orleans • Target Center • FSN+, 830-AM

Pelicans hope Mirotic can help

Preview: Coming off their 11th consecutive home victory and having enjoyed their first full practice in about three weeks – the Wolves will finish a difficult stretch with this game against the injury-marred Pelicans. It will be the Wolves' 19th game in 34 days. After Saturday the Wolves won't play again until Wednesday in Cleveland. The Pelicans were one of the league's hottest teams before losing big man DeMarcus Cousins to a torn Achilles' tendon in a victory over Houston on Jan. 26. The Pelicans, who beat Oklahoma City 114-100 on Friday night behind Anthony Davis' 43 points, acquired power forward Nikola Mirotic in a trade with Chicago, and he is expected to make his Pelicans debut Saturday.

Players to watch: Wolves G Jimmy Butler has averaged 21 points and 51.1-percent shooting vs. New Orleans this season. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 22.0 points vs. the Pelicans. The Wolves have held Pelicans star F Anthony Davis to 19.0 points in three games, well below his 26.4-point season average. PG Jrue Holiday has averaged 18.0 points and 4.7 assists vs. the Wolves.

Numbers: Wiggins is 19 points shy of becoming the sixth-youngest player in league history to reach 6,000 points. The Wolves are 3-0 vs. the Pelicans this season — this despite the fact Karl-Anthony Towns being limited, largely by foul trouble, to 11.3 points in those games. Minnesota will be going for the season sweep. The three victories have come by an average of 14 points.

Injuries: The Wolves report no injuries. New Orleans listed Cousins, Alexis Ajinca (right knee), Solomon Hill (hamstring) and Frank Jackson (right foot) as out for Friday's game against the Thunder.

Kent Youngblood