Dunking With Wolves
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What To Watch For: Timberwolves vs. Pelicans

By Ben Beecken

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 1: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 1: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Timberwolves will look to start another winning streak in front of what will surely be a star-studded crowd on Saturday night before heading back out on the road once again at the start of next week.

After a gauntlet of a schedule over the past couple of weeks — and really, over the past couple of months — the Timberwolves finally have a pair of consecutive home games. Perhaps unbelievably, it’s their first set of two straight home games since Jan. 12 and 14.

But just as it was the last time they played at home twice in a row, they’ll head back out on the road for two more next week, although it will be preceded by three straight off-days. For some perspective, the Wolves haven’t enjoyed even two straight off days since between games on Dec. 28 and 31, and they haven’t had three straight days off since Dec. 7-9.

Jan. 6-14 was the last time Minnesota enjoyed more than two straight home games, and after their mini-road trip to Cleveland and Chicago next wee, they’ll have three straight in the friendly confines of Target Center.

First things first, however: Saturday night brings the resurgent, albeit DeMarcus Cousins-less New Orleans Pelicans into town.

Much has changed since the last time these two teams matched up, with Cousins tearing his Achilles’ tendon and, more recently, the New Orleans acquiring Nikola Mirotic from the Bulls. Mirotic is expected to make his Pelicans debut on Saturday against the Wolves and his former coach, Tom Thibodeau.

New Orleans had been on a tear, winning seven of eight games and finding themselves firmly back in the Western Conference playoff picture prior to Cousins’ injury. Since then, they’ve gone 1-2, including a 14-point win in Oklahoma City on Friday night. They’ll head into Minnesota on a high, although it’ll come with tired legs, no doubt.

Here’s what to watch for on Saturday night at Target Center.

 1. Karl-Anthony Towns against a Cousins-less Pelicans squad

The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the few teams that Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled against in his young career.

The only time that KAT scored in single digits in 2016-17 was against New Orleans. In the first two meetings this year, Towns struggled mightily with foul trouble. Way back on Nov. 1, Towns scored just two points on seven shot attempts in 23 minutes. On Nov. 29, Towns had 11 points on seven shot attempts in just 21 minutes.

But last time out, Towns asserted himself against a Pelicans squad that still had both Anthony Davis and Cousins at their disposal. He scored 21 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting, including hitting all three of his 3-point attempts. Towns also pulled down 16 rebounds in a 116-98 Wolves rout.

When the two teams met in early January, Towns was stellar on defense. Since then, Minnesota endured a four-game absence from Jimmy Butler and has seen their defensive efficiency take a downturn once again, although holding the Milwaukee Bucks to 89 points earlier this week was certainly a step in the right direction.

2. E’Twaun Moore and Jrue Holiday must be stopped

Anthony Davis is going to get his numbers, and there’s only so much the Wolves can do to stop him. (They’ve actually slowed him down fairly well, he’s scored just 17 and 16 points, respectively, in his last two outings against Minnesota.)

But, as the Oklahoma City Thunder found out just 24 hours prior to Pelicans-Wolves tip-off in Minneapolis, it’s E’Twaun Moore and Jrue Holiday that will decide whether or not Davis has support of any kind.

While Davis dropped 43 on the Thunder on Friday, it took him 34 shots to do it. Meanwhile, Moore had 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. Holiday shot just 5-for-15 from the floor but dished out 11 assists in addition to his 11 points.

The Wolves, and namely Jeff Teague and Andrew Wiggins, will need to step up and play solid defense against their counterparts if Minnesota is going to escape with ease in this one.

Next: Wolves Power Rankings: Hitting a rough patch

We’ll have postgame reaction immediately following the contest. Enjoy your Saturday…

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