Mitchell HansenWeb Editorial AssociateTwitter
7:30 p.m., AT&T Center Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus Where to Listen: 830 WCCO
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to bounce back after Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks when they take on the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in San Antonio.
The Wolves come into the game at 14-27 overall and in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Spurs enter at 31-9 on the season and are in second place in the Western Conference.
Some tidbits entering Tuesday night’s game:
- Ricky Rubio has is averaging 11.3 points, 14 assists, 4.3 rebounds and three steals over his last four games. He has hit double-digit assists in four straight games, which is the second-longest stretch of his career.
- Karl-Anthony Towns has 30 double-doubles on the season, which ranks third in the NBA. Russell Westbrook (33) and James Harden (35) are the only players with more.
- The game is Minnesota’s second game of a three-game road trip.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 98-87 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in Dallas.
Gorgui Dieng had 21 points and eight rebounds, Andrew Wiggins had 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Towns had 18 points and nine rebounds, Zach LaVine had 11 points and five rebounds, and Nemanja Bjelica had 10 points and four rebounds for the Wolves.
San Antonio is coming off of a 108-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in Mexico City.
Kawhi Leonard had 38 points, Manu Ginobili had 16 points, Tony Parker had 14 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 13 points and four rebounds for the Spurs.
Last Matchup
The last matchup between Minnesota and San Antonio came on Dec. 6 in Minneapolis. The Spurs won 105-91.
In that game, LaVine led the Wolves with 25 points. Dieng had 16 points and nine rebounds, Kris Dunn had 15 points, Wiggins had 11 points and five rebounds and Towns had 11 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.
For the Spurs, Leonard had 31 points and four assists, Patty Mills had 15 points, Kyle Anderson and Pau Gasol had 11 points each, and Nicolas Laprovittola added 10 points.
Tuesday’s game is the second of four games between the two teams this season. The next game will be on March 4 in San Antonio.
Key Matchup: Andrew Wiggins vs. Kawhi Leonard
One key matchup to watch Tuesday night will be between Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.
Wiggins, in his third year out of Kansas, is averaging a career-best 21.9 points (23rd in the NBA), 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists this season.
Leonard, who looks to be on his way to his second All-Star appearance in his sixth season, is averaging 24.6 points (12th in NBA), 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this year.
The last time the two squared off, Leonard held the advantage, finishing with 31 points while holding Wiggins to 11 points.
Wiggins and the Wolves look to get their revenge on Tuesday night.
Injuries
San Antonio: Mills (calf) and Dejounte Murray (ankle) are questionable.
Minnesota: Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is out.
Projected Starters
San Antonio: PG – Parker, SG – Green, SF – Leonard, PF – Aldridge, C – Gasol
Minnesota: PG – Rubio, SG – LaVine, SF – Wiggins, PF – Dieng, C – Towns