Chicago is on a nice five-game winning streak averaging 100.8 points during that stretch and allowed 85.0 on 42.2 percent shooting in the last four. The Wolves are in a tough spot off one of their biggest wins of the season, beating a Spurs team that was in a letdown spot.

Look for Minnesota to come out flat. There is a reason they are one game above .500. Minnesota could play a fourth consecutive game without Kevin Martin (19.2 points per game) because of a heel injury and its fifth straight minus Nikola Pekovic (17.4), who is dealing with an ankle problem. Yes, they have rallied around the injuries and played well short-term. But in such a tough back-to-back spot, the emotion reaches the inevitable point of diminishing return.