Minnesota Timberwolves Team Report - March 15

(Basketball News) - The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center in the second of a home-and-home set.

It will be the fourth and final meeting of the 2004-05 campaign between the clubs. Minnesota defeated the Mavericks, 83-82, on November 22nd at American Airlines Center, while Dallas beat the Timberwolves twice at the Target Center.

These two teams have split the last six meetings in this series. Dallas has won five of the last eight contests, while Minnesota has won seven of the last 13 games. The Timberwolves have lost three of five and six of their last nine at Dallas.

On Sunday, Jason Terry scored a team-high 22 points with 12 assists, Dirk Nowitzki added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Dallas defeated Minnesota, 102-93, at the Target Center.

Reigning MVP Kevin Garnett paced Minnesota in the opener of the home-and-home set with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds despite suffering an eye injury late in the first half. He was inadvertently poked in the right eye by Howard while attempting to grab a rebound late in the second quarter. Garnett missed two free throws after the play before heading into the locker room with 3:11 to go in the half, but later returned to the game.

Trenton Hassell added 19 points and Wally Szczerbiak came off the bench to score 18 in Sunday’s loss for the Timberwolves, who have dropped two of three following a three-game winning streak. Troy Hudson and Latrell Sprewell combined to shoot 2-of-18 from the floor for Minnesota, which is fighting with the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Minnesota, which starts a three-game road trip Tuesday, is just 14-17 on the road. The Timberwolves will visit the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

The Timberwolves return home after Friday’s game for two contests. Minnesota is scheduled to host the Houston Rockets on Sunday and the New Orleans Hornets on March 23rd.

On the injury front, Timberwolves center Michael Olowokandi (hyperextended right knee) and guard Sam Cassell (hamstring) are questionable. Cassell has missed seven straight games, while Olowokandi has been on the sidelines for Minnesota’s last nine contests.

Hassell has scored in double-digits in three straight games and is averaging 15 points and five rebounds in that span, while Szczerbiak has posted 15.6 points and 4.3 boards per game in his last 10 contests.