Mitchell HansenWeb Editorial AssociateTwitter
7 p.m., Target Center Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Where to Listen: 830 WCCO
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to continue to stay hot as they open up a three-game homestand at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Indiana Pacers.
The Wolves come in at 17-28 overall and in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Pacers enter at 22-22 on the season and are tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Here are a few tidbits prior to Thursday’s game:
- The Wolves have won three straight games and are winners in six of their last eight games.
- Tuesday night marked the first time in franchise history that the Wolves have won three straight games by three or fewer points.
- The Pacers have won six of their last 10 games, but come into Thursday’s game on a three-game losing streak.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 112-111 win over the Suns on Tuesday in Phoenix.
Andrew Wiggins, who hit the game-winner as time expired, finished with 31 points and six rebounds to lead the Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Gorgui Dieng had 16 points and nine rebounds, Shabazz Muhammad had 16 points, Ricky Rubio had 14 points, 10 assists and four rebounds, and Zach LaVine had 11 points and four assists.
Indiana is coming off of a 109-103 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday in New York.
Paul George had 31 points and seven rebounds, Myles Turner had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Al Jefferson had 13 points, and CJ Miles had 10 points for the Pacers.
Last Matchup
Indiana held a 2-0 series advantage over Minnesota a season ago. The last matchup came on Dec. 26, 2015 in Minneapolis, when Indiana won 102-88.
In that game, Towns had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wolves. Wiggins had 19 points, Rubio had 15 points, nine assists and five rebounds, LaVine had nine points and four assists, and Dieng added seven points and seven rebounds.
For the Pacers, Monta Ellis had 22 points and six rebounds, George had 18 points and four rebounds, Jordan Hill had 12 points and five rebounds, and Ian Mahinmi and Chase Budinger each added 11 points.
Thursday’s game is the first of two contests between Minnesota and Indiana this season. The final game will come on March 28 in Indiana.
Key Matchup: Andrew Wiggins vs. Paul George
The matchup at small forward between Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins and Indiana’s Paul George should be one that features a lot of offense Thursday night.
Wiggins, in his third NBA season, is averaging 22 points (22nd in the NBA), 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists this season, all of which are career-highs.
George, in his seventh season, is averaging 22.2 points (21st in the NBA), six rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season.
Injuries
Indiana: Aaron Brooks (knee), Ellis (ankle) and Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) are questionable.
Minnesota: Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is out.
Projected Starters
Indiana: PG – Teague, SG – Miles, SF – George, PF – Young, C – Turner
Minnesota: PG – Rubio, SG – LaVine, SF – Wiggins, PF – Dieng, C – Towns