Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves preview and teams – 2013 NBA Week 17

The sixth of Thursday NBA Week 17 matches is between Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves. The game is set to commence at 12:10pm with the game to be played at Target Center. Home team Indiana Pacers go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

 

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When: 12:10 | Thursday 20/02/2014

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

Indiana Pacers $1.67 vs N $2.25 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Indiana Pacers $1.66 vs N $2.25 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Indiana Pacers 1.67 1.60 1.66 1.60 1.67 1.63
Minnesota Timberwolves
2.25 2.40 2.25 2.40 2.25 2.28

Teams:

Indiana Pacers:

Indiana Pacers logo
Num Player
8 Rasual Butler
22 Chris Copeland
24 Paul George
33 Danny Granger
55 Roy Hibbert
9 Solomon Hill
3 George Hill
11 Orlando Johnson
28 Ian Mahinmi
4 Luis Scola
15 Donald Sloan
1 Lance Stephenson
32 C.J. Watson
21 David West

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Minnesota Timberwolves logo
Num Player
11 Jose Barea
13 Corey Brewer
10 Chase Budinger
33 Dante Cunningham
5 Gorgui Dieng
6 Robbie Hummel
42 Kevin Love
23 Kevin Martin
Luc Mbah a Moute
15 Shabazz Muhammad
14 Nikola Pekovic
22 A.J. Price
9 Ricky Rubio
1 Alexey Shved
32 Ronny Turiaf

Preview:

The Minnesota Timberwolves have their work cut out if they’re going to climb into the Western Conference playoff picture.

Doing so could prove all the more difficult with two of their top scorers still out.

Minnesota will again be without Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin as it opens the second half of the season Wednesday night against the East-leading Indiana Pacers.

Sitting a handful of games out of the West’s eighth and final playoff berth, the Timberwolves (25-28) know they need to come out with a sense of urgency if they want to make the postseason for the first time since 2003-04.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’ve got a chance,” point guard J.J. Barea said. “If we’re going to make a run, it’s got to be right when we get back.”

The Timberwolves were hoping Pekovic might be able to return after six days off, but he is expected to miss a 10th consecutive game due to bursitis in his right ankle. Martin remains sidelined with a broken left thumb.

“I’m not surprised (by Pekovic),” coach Rick Adelman told the Timberwolves’ official website. “They are hoping to get more activity over the next few days and see what happens. Like I said before, he’s got to get on the court and practice some, not only the injury but the conditioning.”

Martin and Pekovic are averaging 19.0 and 18.0 points to rank second and third on the team.

“There’s still a chance for a nice push. We just have to go out there and we have to take it. Hopefully that will be the case,” said Kevin Love, who scored 13 points in Sunday’s All-Star game. “We just need to be together. Hopefully that will push us over the top.”

The Timberwolves are 1-4 in their last five against the Pacers after falling 98-84 at Indiana on Nov. 25. Love had 20 points and 17 rebounds while shooting 6 of 20 as Minnesota was held to 32.6 percent from the floor, its second-lowest mark this season.

The Pacers (41-12) opened the season’s second half with Tuesday’s 108-98 victory over Atlanta. Paul George led the way with 26 points as Indiana scored 35 off the Hawks’ 22 turnovers.

“We want to peak towards the end of the season and we’re on our way,” All-Star center Roy Hibbert said. “The last 20 games, we want to play our best ball.”

Indiana jumped out to a 31-9 lead in the first quarter before allowing the Hawks to slowly creep back into it.

“We have to be able to get off to good starts,” George said. “We have got to understand that teams are going to rally back, but I thought they made the game closer than it needed to be when we had a good lead.”

The Timberwolves snapped a season-worst four-game skid in their final game before the All-Star break, beating Denver 117-90 last Wednesday. Love had 32 points, 11 boards and eight assists while Corey Brewer scored 22.

“We needed a game like that after having a tough stretch,” said Ricky Rubio, who added 11 points, 12 assists and a season-best seven steals.

The Pacers are 6-7 over their last 13 on the road after opening 9-2.

Source: www.nba.com

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