The Minnesota Timberwolves don't have a heck of a lot to look forward to these days. Their 15-49 record is still the worst in the Western Conference, and they're coming home from a road trip that saw them drop two out of three. . .which, admittedly, is better than their usual road trip this season, but I digress.
This week, however, one of Minnesota's players has the opportunity to make history, as Kevin Love is one game behind Moses Malone for the most consecutive double-doubles in the post-merger NBA era. Malone had 51 straight double-doubles in the 1978-79 season, and Minnesota's big man currently sits at 50 in a row. (You can see the whole list right here.)
Love's chance to tie the record will come on tonight, as the Wolves play host to the Dallas Mavericks at the Target Center. Dallas is currently residing in second place in the NBA's Southwest Division, sporting a 45-17 record on the season. This will be just the second time this year that the Mavericks and Wolves have gotten together, with Dallas scoring a 100-86 victory over Minnesota in Dallas back on December 1. In that game, Kevin Love put up 12 points and 15 rebounds, in what was just the fourth game of his current streak. Tip-off for this one will be at 7:00 PM Central time at the Target Center, and you can see the game on television on Fox Sports North.
Should love get a double-double against the Mavericks, his chance to break the record will come on Wednesday night when Minnesota welcomes the Indiana Pacers to town. The Pacers are currently in second place in the NBA's Central division with a 27-35 record. (Seriously, can we petition to get the Timberwolves moved to the Eastern Conference?) This is the second and final game of the year between these inter-conference foes, as the Pacers came away with a 116-105 victory in Indianapolis back on February 11. Love had a pretty comfortable double-double that night, putting up 22 points and 15 boards. For a chance to watch history, either make your way to the Target Center, or turn on Fox Sports North when the game starts at 7:00 PM Central time.
Minnesota's next game will be on Friday as the Utah Jazz come calling to the Target Center. The Jazz are in fourth place in the Northwest Division, but their 33-30 record puts them a full 18.5 games ahead of the Timberwolves in the division "race." Kevin Love has averaged 23.5 points and 17 rebounds in Minnesota's two games against the Jazz this year, both of which have resulted in Minnesota losses. . .112-107 at the Target Center on December 22, and 108-100 in Salt Lake City on January 28. This one will start at 7:00 PM Central from Minneapolis, but unless you have NBA League Pass, you won't be watching it on television, as there is no local TV coverage for this game.
The week concludes on Sunday as the Wolves head out to Oakland to take on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are in third place in the Pacific Division with a 27-35 record, and have taken two of the three meetings against the Wolves this year. Golden State won on November 27 in Minneapolis by a score of 104-94, and got a 108-99 victory at home on December 14, but the Wolves won a thriller at the Target Center last week when they knocked off the Warriors 126-123. Kevin Love has averaged 23.7 points and 19.7 rebounds a game against the Warriors this year. Later tip-off for this one, with the game getting started at 8:00 PM Central time, and you can see it on television on Fox Sports North.
As always, you can listen to the radio broadcast of every Timberwolves game on KFAN-AM 1130.
There you have your Timberwolves schedule for the upcoming week, ladies and gentlemen. Get out to the Target Center if you can, or cheer the team on from your living room. And be sure to check out SB Nation Minnesota for all the latest news and notes on the Minnesota Timberwolves.