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Fading Timberwolves looking for back-to-back wins

Mar 23, 2007 - 3:56 PM Minnesota (29-38) at Seattle (26-41) 10:30 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) - The Minnesota Timberwolves will be searching for their first back-to-back wins since the All-Star break when they visit the shorthanded Seattle SuperSonics on Friday.

Interim coach Randy Wittman and Minnesota have not captured back-to-back victories since taking down Boston and Denver at home on February 11-14.

The Timberwolves snapped their season-high 11-game road losing streak with Wednesday's 95-89 triumph at Sacramento, improving to just 4-11 since the All-Star break. They have lost their last four visits here.

Minnesota (29-38) has not reached the postseason since 2004. It still has an outside chance of reaching the postseason, trailing the Los Angeles Clippers (32-36) by 2 1/2 games for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference.

The Timberwolves get a break as the SuperSonics will be without All-Star guard Ray Allen, who is sidelined due to his ongoing battle with bone spurs in his left ankle. Averaging 26.4 points per game, Allen is just five points shy of Hall of Famer Bob Cousy for 68th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

The Sonics have lost three straight home games, most recently Wednesday's 108-106 setback to Washington in which they allowed Gilbert Arenas to score 42 points, including the game-winning basket at the buzzer.