Knicks-Timberwolves Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO

(AP) -- A four-game homestand following a long, difficult road trip appeared to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a chance to regroup and begin a turnaround, but they're instead dealing with a slew of injuries.

The short-handed Timberwolves will try to overcome the bloated list of absences Wednesday night when they attempt to send the New York Knicks to a ninth loss in 10 games.

Minnesota (2-7) lost five of six during a two-week stretch away from the Target Center, including last Wednesday's 113-101 loss to Houston in Mexico City where it was deemed the home team.

The Timberwolves followed that up two days later with the most lopsided defeat in franchise history, falling 139-91 at New Orleans before Saturday's 131-117 loss at Dallas.

Ending a five-game slide, during which they've been outscored by an average of 18.6 points, will be tougher with an injured list that includes Ricky Rubio (ankle), Nikola Pekovic (wrist) and Ronny Turiaf (hip).

Thaddeus Young has already missed two games following the death of his mother, and could be out for three more while Rubio is sidelined indefinitely. Pekovic isn't expected back until next week and Turiaf is day-to-day.

"We're dropping like flies," guard Kevin Martin told the team's official website, "but the team is committed to going out there and playing hard every single game. We know whoever is out there is going to give a good effort."

Much of the scoring onus will fall on Martin, who leads the Timberwolves with 18.4 points per game after scoring 34 on 12-of-17 shooting against the Mavericks. He was 6 for 22 from the field while totaling 23 points over the three previous games.

Minnesota is expected to replace Pekovic at center with Gorgui Dieng, who averages 8.0 points and 6.9 boards. He matched a season high with 12 points in 26 minutes Saturday after Pekovic was hurt.

Anthony Bennett filled in for Young at Dallas, tallying 10 points with seven rebounds and four assists. His 28-plus minutes were roughly eight more than his previous season high.

"We've got to watch who we have on the court because we're going to have some backups in case guys get in foul trouble," coach Flip Saunders said. "We've only got three guys we consider power forwards or centers on our roster right now. We've got to monitor those guys."

The Timberwolves will be facing a Knicks team playing its third game in four days after Tuesday's 117-113 loss at Milwaukee. New York (3-9) trailed by as many as 26 before closing to within two in the final seconds.

It was another disappointing defensive performance by the Knicks, who have allowed an average of 101.9 points in the past seven games. They've at least been better at the opposite end of the court, averaging 107.3 points in the last three contests, an increase of 15.1 from the previous six.

Carmelo Anthony is averaging 33.3 points on 63.2 percent shooting in that three-game span despite playing with a sore left knee. Anthony scored 26 points in 37 minutes Tuesday.

"It's been sore since maybe the Cleveland game (Oct. 30)," Anthony said. "I've had some tests. I really don't know exactly what's going on with it - I mean, I know what's going on with it. But like I said, for me it's just a matter of just not kind of thinking about and playing through it."

The Knicks have won five of six against the Timberwolves, including three straight at the Target Center. Anthony has totaled 69 points in his last two visits.