The Sixers (0-14) had what seemed like their best chance at their first win on Saturday in Miami, but they coughed up a 19-point lead and could not find a good shot in the final minutes. With 14 losses to start the season, the young Sixers have everything going against them as the season progresses, especially with their inability to close out games down the stretch. Tonight, they face a Timberwolves team that features two players that most Sixers fans would have loved to have in Philadelphia for this painful rebuild process. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are the cornerstone of Minnesota's success moving forward, something the Sixers wish they could feel in year three of their process.
Philadelphia is coming off of what coach Brett Brown calls a "cruel loss" at the hands of the veteran Miami Heat. The Sixers held a lead as large as 19, but as the game wound down in the fourth, they couldn't maintain their pace and intensity, resulting in the Heat putting together a run to eventually win the game, 96-91. The Sixers couldn't find a way to drive into the lane, and spent too much time on the perimeter of floor and forcing shots towards the end of the clock.
"We were in a position to get our first win and we just couldn't get into anything at the end of the game," Brown said. "I give credit to a veteran Miami team. Defensively they were fantastic and we just had a hard time finding a shot. We were in a late clock a lot in the last 5 minutes and it's a part of cruel path that we are going to evidently have to take." [ESPN.com]
Meanwhile, concern as to whether Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor can co-exist has surfaced, with both big men performing significantly better while the other one is off the court. According to Kevin Pelton of ESPN, Noel is averaging 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds better when Okafor is not on the court, while Jahlil is scoring 7.1 more points and grabbing 3.7 more rebounds when Nerlens is on the bench. If the Sixers plan on earning their first win, these two will have to work together and become more effective while they are both on the court.
The Timberwolves, losers of 14 straight games at home, suffered a home loss to Detroit during their last game, 96-85. Guards Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio were just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc as Minnesota just couldn't find a consistent scoring groove at any point during the game.
"We can't score," coach Sam Mitchell said. "We're getting shots. We're missing them. We've just got to score better." [ESPN.com]
Tonight's most intriguing matchup is one between two Rookie of the Year candidates in Jahlil Okafor for the Sixers and Karl Anthony-Towns for the T'Wolves. Okafor is averaging 17.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while Towns, the first overall pick in this years' draft is averaging 16 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Game Notes:
- Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel should have a good night in the post, as the T'Wolves allow the second-most points in the paint this season at 45.8.
- The Sixers are two losses shy of tying the record for the most consecutive losses in NBA history with their current skid of 24 dating back to last season.
- Minnesota is 0-6 at home this season and has lost six of their last seven games.
- Philadelphia snapped their season-opening 0-17 record last year against the Timberwolves.
- Andrew Wiggins averaged 13 points per game in the two meetings between Philadelphia and Minnesota last season.
- Karl Anthony-Towns leads all rookies in rebounds (10.4) per game and blocks (2.4).
- The Timberwolves are giving up 107.5 points per game at home this season.
Lineups:
Sixers
PG – T.J. McConnell - 7.1 ppg. 6.4 apg.
SG – Nik Stauskas - 9.8 ppg. 2.8 apg.
SF – Jerami Grant - 10.1 ppg. 4.9 rpg.
PF – Nerlens Noel - 11.0 ppg. 8.8 rpg.
C – Jahlil Okafor - 17.9 ppg. 7.7 rpg.
Injuries: Tony Wroten (right ACL tear, out), Kendall Marshall (right ACL tear, out), Joel Embiid (broken right foot, out), Carl Landry (torn ligament right wrist, out)
Timberwolves
PG – Ricky Rubio – 11.7 ppg. 8.4 apg.
SG – Kevin Martin – 13.3 ppg.2.8 rpg.
SF – Andrew Wiggins – 21.5 ppg.3.4 apg.
PF – Kevin Garnett – 2.5 ppg. 4.9 rpg.
C – Karl-Anthony Towns – 16.0 ppg.10.4 rpg.
Injuries: Nemanja Bjelica (bruised left knee, questionable); Nikola Pekovic (right Achilles tendon, out)
Game Information:
Tip-off: 8:00pm
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: TCN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Brandon Apter is a contributor to Sixerdelphia.com
