When: March 5, 2016; 8:00 PM EST
Where: Target Center; Minneapolis, MN
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
One night after a thrilling 121-120 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets, the Nets are back in action on Saturday evening in Minneapolis against the young but extremely talented Minnesota Timberwolves. A Brook Lopez tip-in of a Shane Larkin layup attempt put Brooklyn up by one with just 0.4 seconds to go. But Nikola Jokic wasn’t able to get an accurate shot off for the Nuggets, sealing the victory for the Nets.
It was the Nets’ second win against the Nuggets this season, each of which were by a single point (the other was won on this wonderful Joe Johnson buzzer beater at Barclays). Unfortunately, Brooklyn hasn’t had the same success this year against the Timberwolves, its opponent tonight. Back on December 20, the Nets lost 100-85 to Minnesota at home thanks to double-doubles from 2015 No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, a New Jersey native, and Gorgui Dieng, who, ironically, was drafted in 2013 with one of the picks the Nets sent the Jazz in the Deron Williams trade.
Even with Towns, Dieng, 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, Zach Lavine (winner of this season’s Dunk Contest) and Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves have struggled in 2015-16 — as most young teams do — and have lost three straight games, including a 116-101 defeat by the Bucks on Friday. Also, in the past week, Minnesota waived veterans Andre Miller and Kevin Martin — who both signed with the Spurs — to free up time for some of the team’s younger players.
One veteran who’s still in Minneapolis is former Net Kevin Garnett, who was traded to his original team from Brooklyn last year in exchange for Thaddeus Young, who signed an extension with the Nets this summer. Garnett, in 38 games, has averaged just 14.6 minutes for the Timberwolves and might miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. But, by most accounts, Garnett has been a key mentor to Minnesota’s developing big men and could — once his career ends — transition into a coaching or front office role with the organization.
Probable lineups
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Bojan Bogdanovic (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
MIN- Ricky Rubio (PG), Zach LaVine (SG), Andrew Wiggins (SF), Gorgui Dieng (PF), Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Final thoughts
Once again, the Nets play a younger and more athletic team on their road trip, but this time, their opponent’s strengths are in the frontcourt. Wiggins, Towns and Dieng are all really good scorers and can put points up quickly — even on the perimeter as well, not just at the hoop — so the play of Bojan, Thad and Lopez will be extremely important. The Nets need to get out to a good start and limit the easy baskets Minnesota gets, because the Timberwolves are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA.
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