(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Timberwolves embark on a short road trip
west, starting with Tuesday night's clash in the desert with the Phoenix Suns.
The Wolves have dropped two in a row and are just 3-8 in the month of
February. Minnesota is 1-9 in its last 10 road contests as they play the Suns,
Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers on this jaunt.
Last time out, the Timberwolves fell to the Golden State Warriors, 100-99 at
home. Minny had some chances late, but couldn't covert, or couldn't hold to
rebounds.
"We didn't shoot it well again from three, but we played well," Minnesota
coach Rick Adelman said of his team going 1-for-11 from long range. "We gave
ourselves a great chance to win, we just couldn't finish it.
Derrick Williams led the way for the Wolves with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
All five Minnesota starters scored in double figures with center Nikola
Pekovic going for 21.
Ricky Rubio dished out 11 assists to go with his 16 points and six steals. The
Spanish sensation has been picking pockets lately with 23 steals in his last
five games. That is the second-most in a five-game stretch in franchise
history.
The Suns have been much worse than the Timberwolves of late. Phoenix has
dropped its last three and seven of its last eight.
The most recent setback came on Sunday at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs flew out to a 14-0 run to start the second quarter and a 25-4 spurt
later in the period put the Suns down for good.
"I think we even had the lead at the end of the first," noted Jared Dudley.
"They just keep coming at you and when you take one thing away, they have
second and third options."
The Suns were two clear after one, but never recovered from the second-quarter
debacle and fell 97-87.
Marcin Gortat led the Suns with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Luis Scola
contributed 15 and Goran Dragic recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11
assists.
Phoenix has now lost four straight at the U.S. Airways Center and 5-11 since
Alvin Gentry was shown the door in favor of Lindsey Hunter.
The Timberwolves won this season's only matchup, a 111-107 decision in
Minnesota on Dec. 29. The Wolves have dropped 10 of their last 12 in Phoenix.
The Sports Network