Wolves-Atlanta game preview
January 29, 2018 at 5:32AM
Back-to-back on the road begins with lowly Hawks
Preview: Saturday, for the sixth time this season, the Timberwolves prevented a three-game losing streak, with a nearly wire-to-wire win over Brooklyn. Now they try to improve on their 1-6 road record this month and their 2-6 road record against Eastern Conference teams with back-to-back road games against Atlanta and Toronto. The Hawks have the league's worst record (14-35), have lost three straight and three of their past four.
Players to watch: Wolves G Jimmy Butler returned Saturday after missing four games with a sore knee and had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Fellow All-Star reserve C Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 19 rebounds — 10 of them on the offensive end, a career high. Backup PG Tyus Jones scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. … G Dennis Schroder leads the Hawks with 19.6 points and 6.4 assists per game. Six other players are averaging 10.6 points or better. F Taurean Waller-Prince is averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Numbers: This is the first meeting between the teams this season. The Wolves have won four straight vs. Atlanta after dropping 15 of the previous 17. This is the start of the Wolves' 10th set of back-to-back games this season. Minnesota is 4-5 in both the first and second games of such stretches so far.
Injuries: The Wolves report no injuries. Atlanta F DeAndre' Bembry (left adductor strain) is out.
Kent Youngblood
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Chicago, which could be without Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, has beaten the Wolves in their past five meetings at United Center.
