(Sports Network) - A pair of winless teams square off tonight in the Twin Cities, as the Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Milwaukee Bucks from the Target Center.
Minnesota lost its season opener, 117-116, on Wednesday versus Sacramento.
Luke Ridnour posted 20 points, six assists and five rebounds to lead the Timberwolves, who tied a franchise-worst with 15 wins last season. New acquisition Michael Beasley added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Kevin Love chipped in 11 points and 10 boards in defeat.
"(The defense) has to get better," Ridnour said. "In order to win in this league, you've got to play defense. All preseason, that's kind of what carried us and what we hung our hat on. Then, it seems like when the lights came on, we didn't execute and do the things we had all preseason."
The T'Wolves will begin a three-game road trip to Memphis, Miami and Orlando following Friday's home tilt with the Bucks.
Milwaukee was handed a 95-91 loss by New Orleans two days ago.
Carlos Delfino tallied 19 points and five rebounds for the Bucks, who lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last year. Corey Maggette added 16 points off the bench.
Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings and Drew Gooden had 15 points apiece.
"On both offense and defense we were sloppy most of the night, we ran into a lot of screens and we paid for it," Bucks head coach Scott Skiles said. "The 11-0 run at the end of the third quarter really hurt us. On offense we're still learning, but defensively we didn't have great focus."
Bogut grabbed 15 rebounds and Gooden pulled down 11. Bogut played in only 69 games last season because of wrist and elbow problems.
The Bucks won both contests with Minnesota last season and have won six of the previous nine matchups between the teams.