76ers-Timberwolves Preview

The Philadelphia 76ers are starting to string some wins together. The Minnesota Timberwolves would like just one.

Philadelphia goes for its fourth straight victory on Wednesday when it visits a Timberwolves club that hasn't won since opening night.

After rallying from 26 down in their 94-92 win at Indiana on Friday, the 76ers (5-5) outscored Oklahoma City by 21 in the second half on Saturday in a 110-85 victory.

"We got some energy after halftime and built on it," said Andre Iguodala, who had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists Saturday. "It was a good win for us."

Iguodala is averaging 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists during the winning streak.

All 12 Philadelphia players scored against Oklahoma City, led by Thaddeus Young's 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting. In his last two games, Young has shot 63.6 percent and averaged 24.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. On Feb. 19, Young hit all five shots and scored 12 in a 104-88 loss at Minnesota.

Philadelphia is shooting 45.4 percent from the floor during its streak, up from 37.9 during a three-game slide from Nov. 5-11. In their last seven visits to Minnesota -- six losses -- the 76ers have shot 40.2 percent and averaged just 89.4 points.

The Sixers, the NBA's leading rebounding team with 49.2 per game, have outrebounded their last three opponents by 7.0 a contest, including a 58-45 edge over the Thunder. Samuel Dalembert had 16 boards and scored 13 Saturday, while Elton Brand -- ninth in the NBA with 10.3 rebounds per game -- had 15 points.

Dalembert posted 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in two matchups with Minnesota in 2007-08, while Brand has four double-doubles in his last five games against the Wolves (1-8), averaging 20.0 points and 10.4 rebounds.

In addition to getting outrebounded in six of its past eight games, Minnesota ranks in the bottom third in the league in field goal shooting at 43.0 percent. In their 90-84 loss at Denver on Sunday, the Timberwolves held the Nuggets to 33.7 percent shooting but went only 3-of-12 from the floor in the final six minutes.

"It's tough. It's just tough," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "We have to make sure we give ourselves a chance to win the games at the end. We've done that. We can't lose focus of our play through three-and-a-half quarters."

The Timberwolves have lost eight in a row by an average of only 5.9 points.

"We've been close almost every night," said rookie Kevin Love, who came off the bench Sunday following four straight starts. "We've had five losses of under six points. It is tough. It's time to get a win."

Al Jefferson will likely have to play a big role for the Wolves to post a victory. He had 20 points and 14 rebounds against the Nuggets, and is averaging a career-best 22.3 points with 10.6 rebounds. Jefferson is one of only three players, along with Toronto's Chris Bosh and San Antonio's Tim Duncan, ranked in the top 11 in both categories.

Jefferson averaged 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds as these teams split two meetings in 2007-08.