(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Timberwolves try to shake off a two-game
losing streak on Saturday night when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to the
Target Center.
The Timberwolves fell in New York to the Knick on Sunday and dropped a home
setback to the red-hot Houston Rockets on Wednesday, 87-84. Minnesota shot
38.1 percent from the field and 25 percent from long range as it lost for the
fourth time in its past five.
J.J. Barea led the way with 18 points and Alexey Shved chipped in 16. Kevin
Love was held to seven points, but did pull down 12 rebounds.
In encouraging news for the Wolves, shooting guard Brandon Roy practiced for
the first time Thursday since arthroscopic knee surgery last month. There
isn't a timetable for his return just yet, though.
"No setbacks, but again I've just been going 1-on-1 up until today since that
last practice, but no, no setbacks," Roy said. "Biggest thing is just, you
know, I felt a little rusty at times today just because I haven't been in a 5-
on-5 setting, but that's why I think it was important to stay out there and
scrimmage as much as we did."
The Timberwolves will try to deal the Suns a fifth loss in a row after Phoenix
was bested 97-91 on Friday night by the Indiana Pacers.
The Suns fell behind early, but rallied from 16 points down in the third
quarter to take the lead. However, they failed to finish off the Pacers and
lost their seventh straight road game.
"We haven't been able to make winning plays to close out games," Suns coach
Alvin Gentry said. "Once again we have one of those games where we can say it
was a good effort, but we have nothing to show for it."
Sebastian Telfair, starting in place of an injured Goran Dragic, registered a
season-best 19 points -- 13 of which came after halftime -- to spur Phoenix's
near-comeback.
Dragic sat out with a bruised hip suffered on Wednesday and is questionable
for tonight.
Marcin Gortat finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a losing cause as the
Suns lost for the 12th time in 14 road games this season. They haven't won as
the visiting club since Nov. 27 at Cleveland.
The Suns, though, are 12-2 in their last 14 against the Timberwolves and have
won six in a row in Minnesota.
The Sports Network