Howlin' T-Wolf

Indiana Pacers (38-22) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-36)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 115-110 vs Oklahoma City, Indiana: W, 105-99 vs Milwaukee

Kevin Love remains unavailable for tonight's matchup with Indiana.

The Wolves scrapped away against the Thunder on Saturday, but were unable to pull out a win. Michael Beasley scored 26 points and JJ Barea added 24, but Russell Westbrook scored 35, while Kevin Durant put up 40 points including 16 in the final seven minutes, as the Thunder sent Minnesota to their 10th consecutive loss.

The Pacers beat the Bucks on Saturday, dealing Milwaukee a very damaging blow to their fading playoff hopes. Indiana is third in the Eastern Conference, maintaining a 2.5 game lead over the Celtics, who have moved up to 4th place.

The Key Questions

#1. Can Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph continue to pad their end of the year stats?

Randolph and Beasley helped the Wolves stay in the game on Saturday. I may be in the minority, but I would support Beasley getting another contract from the Wolves, if the numbers are right. If Randolph gets another Minnesota contract based off these games, I’ll throw things.

#2. Are the Pacers title contenders?

Here’s something to consider: the Bulls are injury-prone, and may be worn out by the playoffs. The Heat are flawed. The Celtics are surging, but fragile. The Hawks can’t be trusted. The Magic hate each other. The Knicks have spent two years trying to find their identity and still haven’t pulled it off.

I’m not saying the Pacers are favorites. But in a weird, shortened season, why COULDN’T they be considered contenders?

#3. Are there Wolves questions that need to be asked at this point?

Not really. You know the drill. Injuries, losses, and a lost season that should have been so much more. Other than that, I’m not really bitter about anything.

The Key Matchups

The biggest matchup for the Wolves will be Nikola Pekovic against Indiana’s all-star giant Roy Hibbert. While Pekovic is much better at scoring in the restricted area (64% to Hibbert’s 57%), Hibbert’s range far outstrips Pekovic. Pek has struggled from outside the restricted area, shooting 31% from in the paint and 11% on mid-range shots, as opposed to 51% and 33% from Hibbert.

Basically, a lot of numbers to say that Hibbert can shoot from further out than Pekovic, and since Hibbert is so tall, Pek might struggle.

Danny Granger is going to be a problem for Minnesota. In their last meeting, Granger scored 36 points, including 5-8 shooting from 3 point range and 13-15 from the line. Martell Webster will be guarding him. I don’t have anything optimistic to add to this.

The Outlook

Bleak. Again. The Pacers have an Eastern Conference playoff lead to maintain. The Wolves have five games to mail in. Just…five more games…

Game starts at 6 pm on League Pass

Oklahoma City Thunder (43-18) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-35)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 95-82 vs Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City: W, 115-89 vs Sacramento

The Timberwolves played the Clippers on Thursday without Kevin Love, who sat out with a concussion. Minnesota fought, but were outmanned and outgunned by the Clippers, who pulled away in the second half.

The Thunder demolished Sacramento Friday night. Durant scored 29 and Westbrook scored 22, while the Thunder held DeMarcus Cousins to 9 points on 3-14 shooting.

Oh yeah, and they did this:

The Key Questions

#1. Will Kevin Love be available to play?

Negative, which is doubly unfortunate. Now we won’t get a repeat performance of March 23’s thrilling double OT game. Love was brilliant, scoring 51 points and dueling Durant and Westbrook, but he wasn’t enough to spur Minnesota to victory. Unfortunately, the rematch looks like it will have to wait until next year.

#2. Will Anthony Randolph continue to play well?

In his last two games, Randolph has been impressive, both offensively and defensively, especially against Denver. AR scored 28 points on 11-16 shooting and blocked 5 shots. Against the Clippers, Randolph continued to be efficient, scoring 16 points on 7-12 shooting. The strangest sentence I will write today: Anthony Randolph will be key to the Wolves’ fortunes tonight.

#3. Will Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combine for 100 points?

The Wolves have historically had trouble guarding Durant, and they will be starting Barea against Westbrook. Oh yes. There will be blood.

The Key Matchups

The biggest matchup for Minnesota will be Nikola Pekovic against Kendrick Perkins. Perkins is one of the few centers in the league who can match up with Pekovic strength-wise, but the Wolves will need Pek’s production to have any kind of a chance against the Thunder.

The Wolves will need to do their best to limit Durant/Westbrook. It would be an understatement to call this a tall order, but if the Wolves force the rest of the Thunder to beat them instead, the game might be more competitive.

The Outlook

Ho boy. This could get ugly. On the one hand, the Wolves seem to be playing with a little more pride. On the other hand, Oklahoma City is a much, much better team.

Game starts at 7 on Fox Sports North

Los Angeles Clippers (35-23) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-34)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 113-107 vs Denver, Los Angeles Clippers: W, 100-98 vs Oklahoma City

The Wolves will need a big night from players like Beasley to compete tonight.

File this under “injury to insult:” Kevin Love went down in the first quarter of last night’s game with a concussion. Love took an elbow from Denver’s JaVale McGee, which may have ended his season. Despite a huge rally from the Wolves, Denver put Minnesota away late, moving into 7th place in the Western Conference.

The Clippers won a statement game against the Thunder last night. Chris Paul took over the game in the second half, including a layup in the final seconds that clinched the game for LA.

The Key Questions

#1. Without Kevin Love for the next few games, can the Timberwolves compete with the Clippers?

It’s hard to imagine that they can. Perhaps the Clippers will have a lapse in concentration the night after a big win, but it seems more likely that Minnesota will be taken out of the game early.

Derrick Williams will likely get the start opposite Blake Griffin. With Williams starting, look for Michael Beasley to get more time coming off the bench, and for him to be more of a focal point offensively. This could be a good thing: Beasley dropped 27 on the Clippers last time these teams met, shooting 11-15 from the field.

#2. Can Minnesota’s role players continue to step up?

Last night after Love went down, several Timberwolves players stepped up and made the game respectable. They will need to continue to play well to have a chance tonight. If the Wolves can get another performance like the one they got from Anthony Randolph last night (28 points on 11-16 shooting), they could make this a game (unlikely).

The Key Matchups

How much will DeAndre Jordan affect Nikola Pekovic’s production? Jordan is so long, he is a tough shot-blocking matchup for every post in the NBA. He isn’t, however, great at helping out on defense.

The mere thought of JJ Barea trying to guard Chris Paul makes my teeth grind. Paul has been playing well lately (21 points, 10 assists in his last five games), and he is a great defender, leading the NBA in steals. He even has a size advantage on Barea. This could be ugly.

The Outlook

The last time these teams played, Minnesota won by 12. At that time, the Wolves were streaking, Love and Rubio were both healthy and active, and everything was a little brighter in Minneapolis. Since then, everything has gone wrong for the Wolves, and things have started going right for the Clippers, who are 8-2 in their last 10. Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine the Clippers slipping tonight.

Game starts at 7 pm on Fox Sports North

Denver Nuggets (31-26) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-33)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 114-90 vs Phoenix, Denver: W, 123-84 vs Golden State

The Timberwolves visit Denver tonight in a game that would have meant quite a lot a month ago.

Minnesota completely failed to show up for a nationally televised home game against the Suns on Monday. Everything about Minnesota’s box score fit the mold of every other Minnesota box score this season.

The Nuggets crushed the Warriors on Monday in Denver. Kenneth Faried had one of his best games of the season, scoring 27 points on 12-18 shooting and grabbing 17 rebounds. I’m not much of a fan of +/- statistics, but Faried was a rather ridiculous +33 for the game.

Denver continues to cling to the 8th and final playoff spot, leading Phoenix by a game and Utah by a game and a half. The Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 games.

The Key Questions

#1. Should we be worried about Kevin Love?

Love doesn’t seem to have quit on this season yet. He continues to put up big scoring games, though his field goal percentage continues to fall as his body absorbs the abuse of this absurd season.

One would like to believe that Love, like Minnesota’s fans, sees this lost season as an anomaly that will be corrected with a real season, real practice and real rest time, one in which Minnesota’s point guard prodigy doesn’t go down with a season ending knee injury.

But of course, we can’t be certain. In the meantime, look for Love to put up 25+ points on 20+ shots tonight.

#2. Can the Wolves top 100?

The Wolves are 1-7 in their last eight games, and in six of those games, they have failed to break the century mark. In the two games they DID break 100, they still lost, because the defense has been absolutely awful. Still. Getting past 100 should at least give them a fighting chance.

The Outlook

I apologize for the shortened preview, but considering the effort Minnesota has been putting forth lately, perhaps it’s appropriate. The Wolves have looked tired and lethargic in all of their last six games. There’s little reason to believe tonight will be different.

Game starts at 8 pm on League Pass

Before we get started discussing the monstrosity that occurred in the Target Center tonight, here’s a video from a couple of months ago. You may have already seen it, but don’t try to act like it doesn’t make you smile.

Feeling better? At least a little bit? Alright, here we go.

Have you ever played in one of those pickup games where everyone is a little tired and the play starts to get sloppy? The games mean a little bit less. One team will miss a layup, and the player who missed will hang out on one end of the floor, hoping his teammates pick up his slack, because dammit, he just doesn’t have the energy to get back up the floor and play defense again.

The Wolves are that guy right now. They just don’t have the energy anymore. They don’t have a shot at the playoffs, they don’t get a draft pick, and the rest of the season just doesn’t feel meaningful. And it is blatantly obvious.

I’m not sure where Minnesota lost the spark. The obvious answer is that the spark faded when Rubio went down. But at that point, they were still in the thick of the playoff hunt. It would be tempting to point to the Oklahoma City game, where a Herculean effort by Kevin Love wasn’t enough to get a signature win, but two nights later Minnesota stomped all over the Nuggets, likely a playoff bound team. Perhaps when the Celtics reminded Minnesota that Garnett is still in a better place now? But Minnesota had just won against the Bobcats (Ok, now I’m stretching for positivity. I’ll stop).

It’s difficult to watch this team, these zombie Timberwolves. They may look like the same players, but they aren’t alive and inspired the way they were as recently as early March. They aren’t playing with any kind of flair, with any passion. They are just existing, a momentarily purposeless team, with no reason to win, but no reason to lose. Just a date on the schedule of eight more teams before fading into the background as the playoffs begin.

But. I’m supposed to be writing about the game. The defense has gotten atrocious. Offensively, the Wolves have several players who can still create for themselves. Love can score. Barea can score. Beasley can score. Pekovic can make himself readily available to score. So even though the beautiful team play has essentially evaporated, Minnesota can still put some points on the board.

But the defense has fallen to pieces. In their last 17 games, the Wolves have given up an average of 106.6 points, a mark that, if sustained for the entire season, would place them better than just the New Jersey Nets and the Charlotte Bobcats. Yikes.

A few bullet points…I’ll try to keep some positivity.

• Malcolm Lee can ball. He is a fun defender to watch. His feet move very quickly, and he always seems to be one step ahead of the defender. And his confidence seems to be growing as he drives to the hoop. Lee was just 1-4 from the field (he attempted one notable three that barely grazed the front iron), but he went to the free throw line four times, meaning he was decently aggressive.
• Lee was certainly more aggressive, for example, than Wes Johnson. Wes hasn’t attempted a free throw since March 19 against the Warriors (he was 1-2). Since February 29 (keep in mind, when you are reading this, that it is now mid-April), Johnson has attempted just six free throws. How is that even possible?
• The Suns shot a healthy 57.3% from the floor, while the Timberwolves were a meager 38.6%. Not many games will be won with numbers like that. Feet, meet limb.
• Kevin Love is shooting just 42% from the floor in his last seven games. Clearly the man is getting tired, and he is probably developing a rather severe case of scoliosis from carrying this team on his back. But, real question: why is he even playing road games at this point? Minnesota’s season is over. Why risk Love’s health at this point?
• Ok, you’re right. That last bullet was entirely too negative. Um. How about Derrick Williams knocking down a couple jumpers? Eh?!

The most discouraging thing about this homestand is the fact that the next winnable game (Detroit) is nine days and five fairly unwinnable games (Denver, OKC, LAC, Indiana, and Memphis) away. Because MAN it would be nice to see the Wolves get another win this season.

New Orleans Hornets (14-41) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-31)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 97-94 vs Golden State, New Orleans: L, 128-103 vs San Antonio

Eric Gordon's return to action could be bad news for Minnesota.

On Wednesday, the Wolves managed to drop a game to a team that is actively trying to lose for a better draft pick. Wayne Ellington scored 17 on 7-11 shooting off the bench, but four Warrior starters scored in double figures as Golden State rallied from a big first half deficit to get the win.

The Hornets were convincingly beaten by the Spurs on Friday night despite Eric Gordon’s 31 points. It was Gordon’s third game back from a knee injury that has forced him to miss all but four of New Orleans’ games this season.

The Key Questions

#1. What will Michael Beasley be able to contribute?

Beasley, along with Pek and Barea, should be in uniform tonight. Beasley’s toe, according to a Jerry Zgoda report, is feeling somewhat better, but he will still have to wear a shoe one size too big. Hopefully Beas isn’t rushing to come back from this injury.

#2. Can the Timberwolves capitalize on the extended rest?

Minnesota had two consecutive nights off. New Orleans faced the red-hot Spurs last night. If rest has anything to do with this game, the Wolves should be able to get a win tonight.

#3. I know this is cheating, but should you read Sebastian Pruiti’s breakdown of Kevin Love’s offensive game?

Yes. Yes you should. Fascinating stuff, with a nice little note at the bottom that should be very encouraging for T-Wolves fans.

The Key Matchups

The return of Eric Gordon should be a frightening prospect for Timberwolves fans. The Hornets managed to grind out a win against the Wolves last time these teams met, and Minnesota was less banged up then. Admittedly, the Wolves were reeling from the news that their sensational rookie point guard was done for the year, but Eric Gordon’s return spells trouble the Minnesota. Wes Johnson will more than likely get the assignment. Gordon has picked up right where he left off last year in his return, averaging 22.7 points in three games.

Chris Kaman inexplicably survived the trade deadline in New Orleans. His field goal percentage is as low as it has ever been, but his points per 36 minutes is the third highest in his career, and his rebounds have stayed steady at 9.8. Fortunately for Minnesota, Pekovic is in the lineup and reportedly feeling much better, coming back from a sickness as well as his ankle injury.

The Outlook

It’s difficult to predict how the Wolves will perform from game to game. Tonight is no exception. On the road, against a team that they should be able to beat, don’t be entirely surprised if the Wolves suffer a frustrating let-down. The Hornets will have a little extra motivation to beat the Wolves as well, since New Orleans owns Minnesota’s 2012 draft pick. Sigh.

Game starts at 7 PM on League Pass.

Golden State Warriors (20-32) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-30)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 116-108 vs Sacramento, Golden State: L, 98-94 vs Memphis

Kevin Love and David Lee square off tonight in Minnesota.

The Wolves struggled through the end of their road trip, falling to the Kings on Monday. Kevin Love led Minnesota with 23 points, but Tyreke Evans went for 24 points and seven assists. Worse for the Wolves: Luke Ridnour badly sprained his ankle in the 3rd quarter, leaving the desperately understaffed point guard position to rookie Malcolm Lee for the foreseeable future.

I’m not suspicious that the Warriors lost to the Grizzlies. After all, it’s not like another team has their protected pick, and if the Warriors get the seventh pick or higher, Golden State won’t have a first round selection in this loaded draft. And it’s not like the Warriors led for most of the game while Memphis played like crap, then somehow managed to outcrap the Grizz in the final quarter.

Wait, that is what happened? Hmm. Something smells fishy.

The Key Questions

#1. Will the Warriors actively try to lose this game?

I mean. They won’t be jacking up shots from half-court and allowing the Wolves to turn the game into a layup line. Well, they might do the latter: Golden State’s defense is shoddy, 5th worst in defensive efficiency.

But the Warriors have clearly given up on this season, and since Utah owns their draft pick unless it’s in the top seven, the Wolves have a real opportunity to be handed a game tonight.

#2. How will Malcolm Lee perform with real minutes?

Hardwood Paroxysm posted a nice piece (complete with video) about Malcolm Lee’s opportunity to show his worth. In the videos are a couple of nice examples of the on ball defense Lee brings to the table. He moves his feet very well, and has shown a good feel for the point guard position on offense.

Obviously, Timberwolves fans wish that Ridnour and Rubio were both around to take Lee’s minutes away from him, but this will be an excellent opportunity to see what he can do, especially defensively.

#3. How many minutes can Pek handle?

Pekovic was apparently champing at the bit to come back from his injury, but Adelman was reluctant to allow him minutes until the Wolves could establish that game time couldn’t hurt him. Apparently, it can’t.

Of course, that really depends on how you define “hurt.” Did Pekovic worsen his injury? No. Bone spurs in your ankles do not, by all reports, get worse when tread on. But Pekovic was clearly still hurting against Sacramento, unless he was grimacing because the Wolves were losing to Sacramento. That would be utterly understandable.

The Key Matchups

We already covered Malcolm Lee’s opportunity to start, but he will be opposite another rookie tonight in Charles Jenkins. While the game itself may not be representative of either team’s potential (Minnesota because of injuries, Golden State because of this), the matchup might well be competitive as two young players get an opportunity to show their abilities.

Kevin Love will be defending David Lee, who is averaging his second highest points per 36 minutes of his career, but also the lowest effective field goal percentage. Love also will probably spend some time defending Jeremy Tyler (haha) who started (HAHA) and played 30 minutes against the Grizzlies (HAHAHA).

Richard Jefferson has been coming off the bench for the Warriors, and has averaged 15 points on 55% shooting this season. He may cause some problems for the Wolves.

The Outlook

If Minnesota loses tonight, we will know the injuries are really getting to them. The Wolves were a better team than the Warriors before Golden State began intentionally losing a lot of games, and Minnesota should continue to be so thanks to Kevin Love.

The Wolves won’t make the playoffs this year, but at least a soft schedule here at the end might allow them to end the season on a good note.

Game starts at 7 on Fox Sports North

More minutes for Malcolm Lee...

This isn’t fun anymore. Not for the Wolves. Not for the fans. There’s no other way to say it.

I honestly spent last night’s game trying to stay positive. See, look. Here’s the evidence. I didn’t expect the Wolves to win on the second night of a back to back. I didn’t expect them to make the playoffs since that damn game against the Lakers in March. So last night, I started making a list of little things that made me smile, like Brad Miller’s 11 point first quarter. I planned to write this recap based off of those little things.

But that was before Luke Ridnour went down and yet another key member of the Timberwolves’ lineup spent the night in pain, unable to play. Ridnour has been a rock for the Wolves. When Rubio went down, Minnesota’s playoff hopes went from imminently possible to negligible, but not because Ridnour was taking over at point guard. He’s been fantastic. He has never (publicly, at least) complained about the horribly hard match-ups (Kobe Bryant, James Harden, etc.) that Rick Adelman has asked him to play. He just consistently worked his ass off, defensively and offensively

I don’t know what’s happening this season, but it’s weird, unfortunate and utter crap. Pekovic was back last night, playing nearly 20 minutes off the bench in his return. And though he told Adelman his only problem was fatigue, Pek was noticeably grimacing as he moved on an ankle with bone spurs. Beasley is still unable to play, as is Barea. We all know Rubio is done for the year. That leaves Kevin Love and a group of players best suited for 15 minutes a game off the bench. Yes, it’s wonderful to have arguably (though if you argue with me, I will destroy you statistically) the best power forward in the game, but it would be nice to have a team around him.

Earlier this season, I would have made the argument that this season was awesome, and whatever happened to Minnesota should just be gravy at this point. After all, the Wolves had improved drastically, and the mere fact that they were contending for a playoff spot should be cause for celebration.

But it just isn’t fun watching any player get injured, and it REALLY isn’t fun watching your favorite players go down one by one. Seeing Pek hop one footed off the floor isn’t fun. Seeing Beasley hobbling around on a sprained big toe isn’t fun. Seeing Luke Ridnour writhing on the ground in pain isn’t fun. This season isn’t fun anymore, and the Wolves deserve a break from whatever voodoo crap continuously beats the living tar out of them.

Anyway. Rant over. Here are some stats and some words.

• Tyreke Evans broke the Wolves down several times last night off pick and rolls. For whatever reason, Minnesota’s bigs kept switching onto him. Evans is not a player teams wants their bigs defending, and he punished Minnesota. On one play in particular, he treated Brad Miller like a chair set up at the elbow, crossing him over smoothly, driving to the rim and putting in a beautiful reverse layup. Evans finished with 24 points on 8-14 shooting.
• The crazy thing about last night’s game is that offensively, Minnesota should have won the game. They shot 48% from the field, 52% from 3-point range. The Kings shot slightly better from the field (50%), but considerably worse from 3-point range (30%). Both teams tied in turnovers with 11. The Wolves out-assisted the Kings 23-22. The big difference? Easy baskets. The Kings beat the Wolves 21-8 on fast break points and 60-42 in points in the paint for a combined 71-50. Sigh.
• Here’s a weird Wes Johnson stat for you: according to the NBA Statscube, Wes is shooting 22% from threes above the break (or: not-corner threes) in the first quarter this season. In the third quarter, he has taken 12 more above the break threes, and he has made 36% of them. I don’t know what accounts for this 14% difference, but I notice it every game. It seems like there’s a 2 minute stretch in every 3rd quarter where Wes hits 2-3 shots, and generally looks like a world-beater. Then the world rights itself and kicks Wes in the groin again.
• I’ve been a fan of DeMarcus Cousins since he entered the league mainly because I bragged to all of my friends that he was going to be a star and I want to be proved right. But when he is playing the Wolves, I get so annoyed with his constant flopping. He has gotten really good at making officials think he was fouled. Not a positive thing.
• One moment of levity in an otherwise dark night: with Brad Miller starting the game, the Wolves didn’t have anybody who could jump for the opening tip. Miller didn’t want to, and was laughing with Kevin Love about it. I truly wish I could have heard that conversation. Anyway, after much debate, Martell Webster lined up against Sacramento’s Jason Thompson…and Webster won the tip. You can’t make this stuff up.

Final thoughts: honestly, the last two losses sealed Minnesota’s fate. Numerically, they are not technically eliminated, but the Wolves will not break their playoff drought this year. The best thing we can do is hunker down and pray nothing bad happens to anyone else.

Maybe, if we’re lucky in these last 11 games, we’ll stumble on something to be positive about.

Sacramento Kings (18-34) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-29)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 119-106 vs Portland, Sacramento: L. 111-99 vs New Jersey

One of the many players Minnesota will miss in tonight's matchup with the Kings.

The Timberwolves are sliding quickly. Despite Kevin Love’s 26 points and nine rebounds against the Blazers yesterday, Minnesota was a step behind the Blazers for most of the game and lost their eighth in 11 tries.

Sacramento lost to New Jersey, putting forth a lackluster effort on Saturday, the second night of a back to back. Tyreke Evans had one of his best shooting nights of the season, putting up 23 points on a tidy 9-15 from the field, but Deron Williams eviscerated the Kings, scoring 19 points and dishing out 15 assists.

The Key Questions

#1. So, will anyone actually be watching this game?

Besides me, that is. Follow me on Twitter (@xtomchaptersx) and talk to me if you are watching, or if you just feel like talking about the Wolves while you watch the NCAA Finals and wish Minnesota still had their own pick. Sigh.

#2. Let’s talk about Isaiah Thomas for a second.

Not a question, but I didn’t know how else to awkwardly transition into this. Not only has Isaiah Thomas been surprisingly productive, he has done it quite efficiently. Thomas’ true shooting percent is currently at 57%, and his turnover percentage is 15.3%. Both marks are significantly better than Houston’s star of efficiency Kyle Lowry. Note: I’m not saying Isaiah Thomas is better than Lowry. I’m just pointing out this fact: Mr. Irrelevant is really good.

#3. Any update on the injury front?

Nope. Beas, Pek and Barea will all be sitting out again tonight. Pekovic apparently has been working out with the team and hopes to return soon, but if the Wolves lose anymore games, letting him sit out the season might be prudent: lower leg injuries shouldn’t be missed with. Just ask Steph Curry.

The Key Matchups

DeMarcus Cousins will likely be stuck with Kevin Love tonight. Love is understandably exhausted, and has been playing like a hero for weeks. But if he can muster up the energy, Cousins can’t defend his range.

Luke Ridnour will have to try and contain the aforementioned Thomas. Ridnour has quietly been continuing his excellent play: he had 21 against the Blazers yesterday.

The Outlook

The second night of a back to back is tough for every team, and the Kings are above .500 at home. Tonight will be a challenge for the Wolves.

Game starts at 9 on Fox Sports North

Portland Trailblazers (24-28) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (25-28)

Last game: Minnesota: L, 100-79 vs Boston Celtics, Portland: L, 98-97 vs Los Angeles Clippers

Love did ok the last time these teams met, I guess.

The Wolves lost a disappointing (and playoff-hope damaging) game against the Boston Celtics on Friday in Kevin Garnett’s 2012 return to the Target Center. Garnett won the much-anticipated matchup between himself and Kevin Love, scoring 24 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and generally flustering Love on defense. Love scored 22 points, but he was 5-18 from the field.

Portland played without injured star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge on Friday night, who sat out with a hyper-extended elbow, suffered in Thursday’s victory over New Orleans. His replacement, JJ Hickson performed admirably with 29 points and 13 rebounds, but Chris Paul hit a driving layup as the clock wound down that proved to be the difference, as the Blazers lost 98-97.

The Key Questions

#1. How will all of the injuries affect the game?

I don’t have any evidence to back this claim up aside from what I’m noticing, but seriously: there have been more injuries around the league than usual this season, right? Am I wrong? Take a look at this game: Rubio is out, obviously. Barea, Beasley and Pekovic are all questionable. For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge is out. Again, I don’t have any numbers, but it certainly seems like players are dropping left and right.

#2. Playoff/tanking implications?

The Blazers are four games behind the Nuggets for 8th in the Western Conference. Their remaining schedule includes two games against both Dallas and Utah and a game against San Antonio. Plus the Blazers began tanking back at the trade deadline. Their slim playoff hopes (if that’s even what they are hoping for) look slimmer every day.

Minnesota, however, has no reason to tank and I still haven’t given up hope. Call me crazy, but see #3.

#3. How difficult is Minnesota’s upcoming schedule?

The next seven games for the Wolves are winnable match-ups, either mediocre teams (Sacramento, Golden State, New Orleans) or decent teams that the Wolves have beaten this year (Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles Clippers). I’m not saying that they will win every game. I’m saying that they COULD win every game. So as big as that 3.5 game deficit looks right now…don’t completely count out the Wolves yet.

The Key Matchups

Obviously, so much depends on whether Aldridge is playing or not, but if Portland is TRULY wants to tank, benching Aldridge for the rest of the season would be the way to go (hint hint). Hickson, though he played well offensively against the Clippers, is a minus defender, so having him guard Kevin Love could be all kinds of entertaining.

Nicolas Batum has scored double digits in six of his last seven games. Wes Johnson hasn’t reached double figures since March 9.

Elsewhere, so much depends on who is available, it’s very difficult to project who might have a good game.

The Outlook

Last time these teams met on March 3, Minnesota won 122-110, breaking a long losing streak to Portland in the Rose Garden. That game put Minnesota in 8th place in the Western Conference. Of course, the Wolves had Rubio at that point. They also had Kevin Love who scored 42 points in the win.

Minnesota doesn’t have Rubio, but they do have Love. A tough matchup, to be sure, but a winnable one.

Game starts at 8 on Fox Sports North Plus