Washington (5-2) at Minnesota (3-4), 7:00 pm EST
MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have been
fairly solid on defense this season. It's the offense that has
left something to be desired. The Timberwolves will try to
shake out of their scoring troubles when they host the
Washington Wizards on Thursday.
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996 last
season, the Timberwolves have failed to break 100 points in
their last five games, losing three of those contests. The
defense has held up its end of the bargain by limiting opponents
to an average of 91.6 points this season.
Former Most Valuable Player Kevin Garnett scored 25 points and
Wally Szczerbiak added 12 for the Timberwolves, who lost for the
first time at home Tuesday to Houston, 94-89.
Washington followed its first trip to the postseason since 1997
by winning five of its first six games to climb atop the
Southeast Division.
Antawn Jamison scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the
Wizards in Tuesday's 114-99 loss at Cleveland. After a 43-point
performance against San Antonio on Saturday, Gilbert Arenas was
held to 18 on 4-of-17 shooting.
Washington snapped a seven-game losing streak against Minnesota
with a 117-114 triumph January 8 to gain a split of the season
series. The Wizards hold a 17-13 edge in the all-time series.





