Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
VI Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
NBA Scores Matchups Teams Standings Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds
 
Preview: Timberwolves (26-40) at Nets (22-44)
BT Movements  ·  Line Movements
Date: February 03, 2012 7:30 PM EDT
  

After another disappointing effort at home, the Minnesota Timberwolves hope for a better outing on the road.

The Timberwolves will try to win three straight road games for the first time in more than two years when they face the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.

Minnesota failed in its fourth attempt to even its record on the season with a 109-99 loss to Indiana on Wednesday. The Timberwolves (10-12) shot 37.4 percent and gave up their second-highest point total of the season, including 64 in the second half.

"We just couldn't get stops," said Kevin Love, who had 21 points and 17 rebounds but shot 6 of 16. "Especially because we didn't shoot a good percentage from the line or from the floor."

Advertisement

Minnesota's last two chances to reach .500 have both come at home. It lost 106-101 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday after shooting 38.5 percent and falling behind by 18 points.

The Timberwolves will try to bounce back on the road, where they've looked more comfortable recently. They are 5-4 away from home and have won their last two road games, defeating Dallas and Houston while averaging 112.5 points. Love averaged 30.0 points in those wins and shot 61.3 percent.

Ricky Rubio has double-doubles in his last three road games, averaging 17.3 points and 11.3 assists.

Minnesota's improved play on the road is a big reason the team has managed to hover around .500 most of the season. On Friday, it will try to win three straight away from home for the first time since April 3-8, 2009. The Timberwolves went 10-72 on the road the previous two seasons.

New Jersey is coming off its third win in five games overall, 99-96 over Detroit on Wednesday.

Deron Williams scored 26 points, Kris Humphries added 18 and the Pistons missed a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left. The Nets (8-15) held on after Detroit came back from a 12-point deficit and tied the game at 88. Humphries made two free throws and Williams hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to five.

"You can't take anyone lightly," Humphries said. "They made a push at the end. (It was) sloppy."

New Jersey used just eight players as it remains without centers Brook Lopez and Mehmet Okur as well as forward Damion James and guard Marshon Brooks. Newly signed Keith Bogans had two points and one rebound in 17 minutes.

"I told them they were the 'Great Eight' tonight," coach Avery Johnson said of his depleted roster. "That's the only way you could look at it."

While playing shorthanded, New Jersey has relied heavily on Williams, who has averaged 29.0 points in the last five games.

Williams tied a career high with 21 assists as New Jersey snapped a four-game losing streak to Minnesota in the last meeting, winning 107-105 at home April 5. Love sat out with a strained groin.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2012
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   SPR   O/U 
 MIN  44%   34%   75% 
 NJN  56%   66%   25% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Receive a 20% discount on all Daily Picks. Signup Today!
 
 
Las Vegas Travel
 
 

NFL
NFL Picks
NFL Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

NBA
NBA Picks
NBA Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

MLB
MLB Picks
MLB Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores


NCAA FB
NCAA FB Picks
NCAA FB Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

NCAA BK
NCAA BK Picks
NCAA BK Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

NHL
NHL Picks
NHL Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores


More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
UFC
WNBA
Soccer

Features
Free Odds
Mobile Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook


Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sportsbook Reviews

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
User Feedback

Sportsbooks
BetOnline.ag
Bodog.ca
Bookmaker
Bovada.lv
SBG Global.eu
Sportsbook
TopBet.com

Rotation Schedules
Baseball:

 
Mar 28 - June 5

Copyright © 1997-2012, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.