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Timberwolves can give Celtics their 18th straight loss

Feb 11, 2007 - 2:05 PM Boston (12-37) at Minnesota (23-27) 6:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Kevin McHale's team can be the latest to add to his former club's misery.

The Minnesota Timberwolves can win for just the second time in seven games Sunday when they host the Boston Celtics, who are looking to end a franchise-record 17-game losing streak.

Before becoming an executive with the Timberwolves, McHale helped lead the Celtics to league championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986, while teaming with fellow Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Robert Parish to form one of the most dominating frontcourt trios ever.

These days, McHale is more concerned about getting Minnesota closer to a playoff berth. His team is 14-9 at home this season, winning all three against Atlantic Division-foes at the Target Center.

The Timberwolves are coming off Friday's 105-97 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Former Celtic Mark Blount scored 25 points and Kevin Garnett added 20 with 17 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double.

Despite the return of leading-scorer Paul Pierce, who played his first game since December 20 after recovering from a foot injury, the Celtics prolonged their losing streak that dates to January 5.

Boston has failed to score 80 points in each of its last two games and has topped the century mark only twice during the skid.

The Celtics fell to a league-worst 4-21 at home with Friday's 92-78 loss to the New Jersey Nets. Delonte West scored 21 points and Al Jefferson added 13 with 17 rebounds, while Pierce managed nine points on 4-of-16 shooting.