Timberwolves-Nuggets Preview

(AP) -- Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson drives to the basket more than any player in the NBA.

The Minnesota Timberwolves allow the league's highest shooting percentage and one of the worst in terms of shots within five feet of the basket.

Rookie Zach LaVine will be tasked with trying to slow down Lawson for the visiting Timberwolves in Friday night's first matchup of the season between these Northwest Division rivals.

Lawson averages 13.0 drives, defined as any touch that starts at least 20 feet away from the basket and ends up within 10 feet excluding fast breaks. Those drives result in an average of 14.5 points for the Nuggets (12-17), second in the league to the 14.9 produced on drives by Houston's James Harden.

There is no reason to think that Minnesota (5-22) will be able to contain him. The Timberwolves are allowing opponents to shoot 49.8 percent and average 48.5 points in the paint for the league's worst marks in both categories.

In addition, Minnesota's opponents are shooting 57.3 percent at the rim – defined as a shot within five feet of the basket. That also ranks among the worst in the league.

Lawson turned in his highest scoring effort in a road game Tuesday with 29 points in a 102-96 loss to Brooklyn. Ironically, he drove to the basket only eight times to result in five points for Denver.

Lawson averages 10.4 assists to rank among the league's best and has shown he becomes more dangerous shooting the ball the more he dribbles it. He is shooting 36.7 percent on shots after he dribbles two or fewer times compared to 43.2 percent after he takes at least three.

LaVine may have an edge in quickness since he averages 4.4 mph on the court compared to 3.9 for Lawson. The Timberwolves have dropped all seven road games in which he has started.

When LaVine isn't on the court, veteran backup Mo Williams may have to guard Lawson. Williams will be playing his fifth game since returning after missing six with back spasms.

Minnesota seeks to avoid its first seven-game slide since March 30-April 17, 2012, and first seven-game road skid since Feb. 22-March 21, 2013.

Rookie Andrew Wiggins broke out of a slump with 27 points against the team that drafted him in Tuesday's 125-104 loss at Cleveland. Wiggins averaged 6.3 points on 25.9 percent shooting in his previous three contests before this effort that impressed LeBron James.

"He's a great talent," James said. "Very poised and very efficient. They got a great piece."

An all-rookie backcourt of LaVine and Wiggins in a starting lineup that includes second-year swingman Shabazz Muhammad has caused coach Flip Saunders to favor an uptempo style that has resulted in Minnesota developing into one of the league's best fast-break teams, averaging 15.4 such points.

The problem is that the Wolves do not have enough shooters to give their athletes room to operate, with Minnesota averaging a league-low 13.3 3-point attempts. They remain without guard Ricky Rubio (sprained ankle), center Nikola Pekovic (sprained ankle) and guard Kevin Martin (broken wrist).

These teams split four 2013-14 meetings.