The Wolves were up by 18 points late in the third quarter Saturday night before the Hawks went on a 24-2 run as Minnesota grabbed defeat from the clutches of victory. Love and Co. look to rebound tonight against a Kings team that looked seriously awful on Saturday night-- Sacramento scored 23 points in the first half Saturday, for real.
Minnesota is a 7.5 point favorite at home, let's see if DeMarcus Cousins is ready to make the Timberwolves pay for drafting Wesley Johnson ahead of him in the 2010 draft. Hopefully he will go easy on Minnesota as Wes himself seems to have taken the lead on punishing the Wolves.
Minnesota did their best to do a 2010-11 Timberwolves impression last night in giving away a 4th quarter lead. The main problem for the Wolves last night was Emeka Okafor being unguarded by Anthony Randolph for much of the game last night. Thankfully, Al Horford is going to be out for (likely) the rest of the season leaving Zaza Pachulia as Atlanta's starting center.
Here is a weird gambling fact about tonight's game:
Road team is 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
The Wolves are 7.5 point dogs tonight against a Al Horford-less Hawks team. I appreciate these teams having their better players injured to give the Wolves a chance while Beasley is out. It is mighty sporting of them.
Minnesota is a 1.5 point favorite on the road tonight. I know the nation may not be filled with gamblers but it doesn't take the wagering type to know that it isn't every day the Wolves are favored on the road.
Eric Gordon is out tonight for the Hornets. The Wolves will be without Beasley. So I figure that is about even. Or not.
Below some information from covers.com
Matchup Edge
MIN
Edge in:
NO
Points/Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench
NOLA is averaging .5 boards more per game than the Wolves. Let's see is Kevin Love close that gap a little bit tonight.
Offense
Season Stats
Rank
Points/G
95.4
12
Field Goal %
43.1
22
3-Point %
35.3
11
Free Throw %
71.7
22
Rebounds/G
44.1
7
Defense
Season Stats
Rank
Points/G
95.1
18
Field Goal %
43.8
12
3-Point %
31.5
10
Free Throw %
79.0
29
Rebounds/G
42.1
17
There are still a lot of improvements to be made but this team is a lot better than last season. Or at least it feels a lot better than a 3-7 team.
That Albert Pujols is pretty good. He will look strange in pinstripes next year. I wonder who will switch positions, Pujols or Teixeira?
The Rangers are in a world of hurt, and yet a win today will change all that. Of course, they are one ninth-inning rally from trailing 3-0 in the series.
