Key: Hungry Like the Wolf
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After running off three straight victories, the Wine & Gold have now dropped their last three, but look to get back in the win column on Sunday night when the injury-depleted Timberwolves – the team they last beat – come to town.
The Cavaliers had a frustrating Saturday night showing against the Thunder – falling behind near the end of the third quarter and never sustaining a rally to get back into it. The Thunder outrebounded the Cavaliers, 52-42, canned seven more free throws, forced 15 turnovers that they converted into 20 points and their bench outscored Cleveland’s reserves, 52-19.
After dropping 11 straight to start the month of December, the shorthanded Timberwolves have won three of five despite being without three of their top five scorers. Over much of the past few weeks, Ryan Saunders squad has been without Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee sprain), Andrew Wiggins (flu), Jeff Teague (right knee sprain), Treveon Graham (flu), Jake Layman (left toe sprain) and Noah Vonleh (left gluteal contusion).
In last Saturday night’s win over the Wolves, the Cavs survived a season-high 28 turnovers and Minnesota’s final flurry to escape with the road victory. And right now, John Beilein’s young squad could use one at home to right the ship before leaving for their longest trip of the season.
Key: The Other Guys
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The guys that have been doing it for the Timberwolves as they’ve bounced back from a prolonged losing skein aren’t household names, but they’ve kept the squad afloat if they hope to make any noise in the second half of the season.
One of those contributors is journeyman guard Shabazz Napier.
Playing for his fifth team in six years, the former UConn standout has never averaged double-figure scoring in any of them. But with Jeff Teague’s recent bout on the bench, Napier has stepped up – tallying at least 20 points in each of the last three games.
Napier struggled mightily in last Saturday’s loss against the Cavs – going just 3-for-17 from the floor on Saturday – but he’s bounced back to shoot 55 percent from the floor, including 53 percent from beyond the arc, over the last three. Over that mini-stretch, Napier has averaged an even 20.0 points and 6.0 assists per – guiding Minnesota to wins over Brooklyn and Golden State.
He’ll have his hands full on Sunday night, taking on Cleveland’s prolific scoring guard, Collin Sexton.
Celebrating his 21st birthday, the Young Bull went off for a game-high 30 points, going 12-of-22 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from deep, to go with five boards and a pair of assists. Sexton has now topped the 20-point plateau in eight of his last 10 games, averaging 20.9 ppg over that stretch.
In last Saturday’s win over the T-Wolves, Sexton finished with 18 points – going 5-of-17 from the field and 8-of-11 from the stripe, adding seven boards and a steal.
Key: The Force is With Him
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Robert Covington is one of those Timberwolves players who’ve been keeping the team afloat during their current injury-riddled stretch.
The undrafted forward out of Tennessee State has been the model of consistency throughout his seven-year NBA career – averaging between 12.3 and 13.5 ppg in each of his last six seasons despite spending none of those campaigns as his club’s first (or even second) scoring option.
Like Napier, Covington has been doing much of the T-Wolves’ heavy lifting over the past few weeks. And like Napier, he’s coming off a 20-point performance in a victory over the Warriors going 8-of-14 from the floor and grabbing double-digit boards in his second straight outing.
He had a sold all-around floor game last Saturday against the Cavs – finishing with 14 points, seven boards, three assists, a game-high four steals and a blocked shot.
Kevin Love hasn’t played in the second-half of back-to-backs this year and changes are he’ll get the night off on Sunday. With Larry Nance Jr. also out resting a sore knee, Coach John Beilein will have to get slightly creative, and he’ll rely on Cedi Osman to fortify his frontline.
Cedi has been rock-solid for the past two weeks and is coming off a season-high 22-point night against OKC – going 7-of-13 from the floor, canning five triples in nine attempts and grabbing four boards.
Over his last 11 games, the third-year forward is averaging an even 14.0 points per – netting double-figures in all but two games, shooting 49 percent from the floor, including 46 percent from deep, over that span.