Game preview: Wolves vs. Charlotte
The Minnesota Timberwolves face the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday, 15 November 2010 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. Both teams will try their level best to make a comeback after suffering defeats in their previous matches.
Preview
The Bobcats were unlucky to go down against the Utah Jazz by a single point, 96 – 95. The Bobcats became Utah's latest comeback victory, blowing a 19-point first-half lead and losing 96-95 on Deron Williams' runner from the lane in the final second. That loss ended the Bobcats' two-game winning streak over Toronto and Washington. They are 3-7 after losing six of their first seven games.
Stephen Jackson scored 24 points on 6-of-18 shooting (including five 3-pointers) with five rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in the Bobcats' 96-95 loss to the Jazz. Bobcats’ centre, Nazr Mohammed scored 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting with 20 rebounds, two assists and four blocks in 36 minutes of action against the Jazz.
The Timberwolves also find themselves in a similar situation, as the Atlanta Hawks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 111-105 win over visiting Minnesota. The Wolves were competitive despite dressing only 10 players but even then, Hawks beat them with 6 points lead. So far the Timberwolves have lost eight matches and won only three this season.
Michael Beasley scored 25 points for the Wolves, and Kevin Love had 22 points and 17 rebounds. Minnesota forward Wes Johnson scored 10 points, and after making 4 of 8 shots he has made 15 of 25 over the past three games, averaging 12.3 points in that span. He entered the game fourth in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in terms of scoring among rookies (10.8).
Players to watch
Both teams have some really skilled players who can turn a game at any time.
The Bobcats’ Nazr Mohammed made like Kevin Love -- well, almost -- and produced a 20-20 game against the Jazz, with a season-high 22 points and 20 rebounds. He also had four blocks in 36 minutes. Charlotte’s G D.J. Augustin meanwhile, has double-doubles in his past two games after doing it just once in 160 career games before that. He had 12 points and 10 assists Saturday after going for 17 and 10 in a game against Washington Wizards.
Numbers
The Wolves allowed 28 fourth-quarter points from 41.2 percent shots in Atlanta, after allowing just 16.7 points from a combined 30.2 percent shots in their three previous games.
Charlotte had 13 offensive rebounds, but only two came in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jazz.
Injuries
A slew of Wolves have stayed behind on this trip as Nikola Pekovic (sprained foot), G Wayne Ellington (thigh bruise), G Luke Ridnour (hamstring), G Jonny Flynn (hip), and G Martell Webster (back surgery) will sit this one out. For the Bobcats, they are without F Kwame Brown (sprained ankle) and G Gerald Henderson (knee). Dominic McGuire, who had what was thought to be a minor bruised shin, actually has a stress fracture that will keep him out for longer.
End Note
This match is of equal importance for both teams, as they both lost their previous games. Also both teams have had difficult starts to their season and will be looking to launch a comeback with a victory here.
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