(SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves are .500 and desperately in need of wins if they are going to make the playoffs. They'll try to take a step in that direction Sunday night when they host the Sacramento Kings at the Target Center.
The Wolves have alternated wins and losses over the last six and are falling dangerously close to a desperate situation. Minny is six behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth seed and has to jump the Phoenix Suns if it will make the postseason.
On Friday, the T'Wolves fell in Charlotte to the Bobcats, 105-93.
Kevin Martin paced Minnesota with 19 points, while Kevin Love contributed 18 and Corey Brewer and Dante Cunningham each netted 10 for the Timberwolves, who have dropped two of their last three.
"It was a tough game for us. They just played better than we did. We didn't play much, if any, defense in this game," said Love. "I don't know how these guys felt, but myself, I was particularly tired. It was just a tough game from the start. We scored 33 points in the first quarter, but they kept making shots and we didn't make stops."
The Bobcats outscored the Wolves, 32-20, in the second quarter and shot 42.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range.
Minnesota plays three of its next four on the road following Sunday's contest with the Kings.
Sacramento will polish off a seven-game road trip Sunday. The Kings are 2-4 thus far and lost last time out, a 94-87 setback Saturday night to the Chicago Bulls.
DeMarcus Cousins deposited 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas had 26 points in Sacramento's fourth loss in five tries. Rudy Gay was the only other Kings player in double figures with 13.
"I like how we competed and gave ourselves a chance to win. We were on the road against a very good team so that is all I can ask from the guys," Sacramento head coach Michael Malone said.
Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field and Sacramento outrebounded the Bulls, 55-40. But the Kings committed 18 turnovers and went 2-for-14 from 3-point range.
The Kings will play four straight at home after Sunday with visits from the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks.
The two teams split this season's two matchups with the visitor prevailing in each contest. The Wolves and Kings have split the last six meetings in Minnesota.
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