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Scouting Report: Wolves vs. 76ers

 

Key Matchup: Jrue Holiday and Ricky Rubio Holiday comes back to Target Center tonight, a venue where he first played as a scrappy high schooler from Campbell Hall H.S. for the annual Timberwolves Shootout. He has come a long way since then, emerging as a legitimate All-Star in 2012-13 and boosting his assist and scoring numbers considerably. Despite the loss of Bynum, he has found ways to spread the ball around, averaging 8.9 assists per game and ranking fourth league-wide. Can Holiday spark this offense to a needed road win? At this point, Philly sits on the outside of the playoff picture, seeded ninth in the East. Blocking his passing lanes will be Ricky Rubio. He said at yesterday’s practice that he essentially feels 100 percent after his knee surgery, and his on-court play has reflected that. Rubio has put up double-doubles in three of his last four games, including his last game where he made 12-of-13 free throw attempts against Utah. It took him a while to adjust after his injury, but the latest string of games from Rubio makes it seem that the kid who captivated the NBA last season might be returning back to form. Injury report presented by TSR Injury Law The Wolves should have forward Andrei Kirilenko back after he missed several games with a quad injury prior to the All-Star Break. Guard J.J. Barea also was slowed by a left mid-foot sprain, and the break should have allowed him to recover a bit as we resume play. For the 76ers, small forward Thaddeus Young has missed four games with a hamstring injury and is not expected to play tonight. The Sixers have also missed Andrew Bynum all season (knee) and Jason Richardson is out for the year with a knee injury of his own.