Scouting Report 2016-17

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8 p.m., AT&amp;T Center Where to Watch: Fox Sports NorthWhere to Listen: 830 WCCO

The playoff push continues for the Wolves in the final game of a four-game road trip in San Antonio against the Spurs on Saturday night.

Minnesota goes into the game with a 25-36 record, three games back from the eighth seed in the West. The Spurs are 47-13, good for second in the West.

A few tidbits going into Saturday night’s game:

Minnesota is coming off a 107-80 road win over Utah on Wednesday. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Wolves with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Wiggins added 20. Shabazz Muhammad led the bench with 18 points, while Nemanja Bjelica pitched in with 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Ricky Rubio had a solid all-around game, finishing with 11 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals.

San Antonio is coming off a 101-98 overtime road win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 31 points, even rebounds, six assists and three steals. LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and 15 rebounds. Patty Mills led the second unit with 15 points, while Pau Gasol added 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Spurs are 2-0 against the Wolves this season. The last game came on Jan. 17 in San Antonio and the Spurs won 122-114 behind 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists from Leonard. LaMarcus Aldridge added 29 points. Tony Parker and Patty mills finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Towns led the Wolves with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Rubio added 21 points and 15 assists. Zach LaVine and Gorgui Dieng combined for 35 points, while Shabazz Muhammad led the second unit with 15 points. Andrew Wiggins was held in check, finishing with just 10 points.

Key Matchup: Karl-Anthony Towns vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

Towns is having himself quite the season, averaging 24 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, all up from last season. He’s shooting 52.6 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from the 3-point line and 82.2 percent from the free-throw line. In two games against San Antonio this season, the second-year center is averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds.

In his second season with the Spurs, Aldridge is averaging 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In two games against the Wolves this season, Aldridge is averaging 17.5 points and here rebounds.

Minnesota: LaVine (ACL), Adreian Payne (illness) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are out.

Spurs: PG – Parker, SG – Green, SF – Leonard, PF – Aldridge, C - Dedmon

Minnesota: PG – Rubio, SG – Rush, SF – Wiggins, PF – Dieng, C – Towns

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Scouting Report | Wolves at Spurs

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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 end their three-game skid when they take on the red-hot Miami Heat on Monday night at Target Center.

The Wolves come in at 19-32 overall and are tied for 12th place in the Western Conference. The Heat enter at 21-30 on the season and are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

A few tidbits prior to Monday night’s game:

Minnesota is coming off of a 107-99 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Wolves. Andrew Wiggins had 23 points and five assists, Ricky Rubio had 14 points and six assists, Shabazz Muhammad had 11 points and four rebounds, Tyus Jones had 10 points and six assists, and Nemanja Bjelica had seven points and four rebounds.

Miami is coming off of a 125-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday in Miami.

Hassan Whiteside had 30 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Heat. Dion Waiters had 21 points and seven assists, Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson had 16 points each, and Wayne Ellington had 11 points.

Minnesota and Miami have not faced off yet this season. The last matchup between the two teams came on Nov. 17, 2015 in Miami. The Wolves won 103-91.

Minnesota, which outscored Miami 41-22 in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback victory, was led by Wiggins with 24 points and three steals. Zach LaVine had 17 points and four rebounds, Muhammad had 16 points, and Towns had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

For Miami, Whiteside had 22 points and 14 rebounds. Luol Deng had 20 points and six rebounds, Dragic had 16 points and nine assists, and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had 10 points each.

The second and final matchup between the two teams will come on March 17 in Miami.

Key Matchup: Brandon Rush vs. Dion Waiters

One key to Miami’s current 10-game winning streak has been the play of Dion Waiters. During that span, he has averaged 21.5 points, 4.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Brandon Rush, who has stepped into the starting lineup for the injured LaVine, will he tagged with the task of slowing down Waiters on Monday.

Rush, in his first season with the Wolves, has averaged 3.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in a limited role coming off the bench this season. In his three starts this season, he is averaging 9.3 points, three rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks.

Waiters, in his first season with the Heat, is averaging 15.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds this season.

Miami: Rodney McGruder (illness) is questionable. Bosh (blood clot), Josh McRoberts (foot), Josh Richardson (foot) and Justise Winslow (shoulder) are out.

Minnesota: Kris Dunn (sore right hand) is questionable. LaVine (knee), Adreian Payne (illness) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) are out.

Miami: PG – Dragic, SG – Waiters, SF – McGruder, PF – Babbitt, C - Whiteside

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Scouting Report | Wolves vs. Heat

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Scouting Report 2016‑17

Scouting Report | Wolves at Spurs

Scouting Report | Wolves vs. Heat