The Minnesota Timberwolves will have three games this upcoming week as they close out 2010 and move into 2011. All three of these games are home games for Minnesota, so hopefully they can get a little momentum going as we change calendars.
Their first clash this week will see them hosting the New Orleans Hornets this evening at the Target Center. The Wolves and Hornets have not hooked up yet this season, and New Orleans will come in sporting an 18-12 record, good for third in the NBA's Southwest Division. Minnesota currently sits in fifth place in the Northwest Division with a mark of 7-24. New Orleans is only 5-9 outside of the Crescent City, however, and the Wolves currently sport a record of 5-7 at the Target Center. Tipoff for this one is set for 7:00 p.m. Central time, and you can either watch the action on Fox Sports North or listen to it on KFAN-AM 1130. Sadly, this is the only one of the Wolves' three games this week that will have any sort of local television coverage.
(Am I reading the standings right? Out of the Wolves' first 31 games, they've only played at home 12 times so far? That seems a bit. . .I don't know. . .unbalanced to me.)
Minnesota's second game of the week will see the Wolves hosting the Denver Nuggets. Denver leads the season series thus far 1-0, having squeaked out a 115-113 victory in Denver back on Dec. 18, and the Nuggets' 16-13 record is good enough to have them in third in the Northwest Division, although their record away from the Mile High City is a pretty unimpressive 4-10. This one will get underway at 7:00 p.m. Central time, and you'll be able to hear all the action on KFAN-AM 1130.
To conclude the week, Minnesota will host a New Year's Day tilt against the New Jersey Nets, who currently reside in last place in the NBA's Atlantic Division with a 9-21 record. This will be the first get together for the Nets and Timberwolves this season. New Jersey's road record this year is a dismal 3-13. You'll be able to catch this one on KFAN-AM 1130 starting at 7:00 p.m. Central time.
So there you have it. . .the Wolves are playing three home games this week against teams that are pretty terrible on the road overall. This might be a chance for the Wolves to get a little bit of momentum going as 2010 comes to a conclusion and we move into 2011.