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Wolves finish homestand vs. Nets

Jan 1, 2011 - 3:40 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Timberwolves hope to finish a three-game homestand on a winning note when they entertain the New Jersey Nets at Target Center tonight.

After topping New Orleans to start their residency the Wolves fell to Denver on Wednesday when Chauncey Billups scored 15 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the Nuggets snapped a three-game road losing streak with a 119-113 victory over Minnesota.

Michael Beasley scored 33 to lead the Timberwolves. Kevin Love recorded his 19th straight double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds and Luke Ridnour scored 20, but the Minnesota failed in its attempt to win three games in a row for the first time this season.

"This is one we felt like we let slip away against a team we should have beat," Love said.

The Nets, meanwhile, lost their fourth straight game and fell to 0-2 on a three-game road trip on New Year's Eve in Chicago when Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, as the Bulls held on to defeat New Jersey, 90-81.

Brook Lopez netted 19 points and Travis Outlaw and Stephen Graham each ended with 16 for the Nets, who also dropped a 114-93 decision at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and are now just 3-15 on the road this season.

"Brave effort by our team tonight," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "Defensively we played much better. The game was physical. We really played hard against Boozer and those guys inside."

On the injury front for New Jersey, reserve point guard Jordan Farmar missed the contest in Chicago with a bruised right knee and is awaiting MRI results while forward Troy Murphy is battling the flu, Both will likely miss tonight's game. For the Wolves, center Darko Milicic is day-to-day with a left hip contusion.

Minnesota, which is 6-8 at Target Center, has beaten New Jersey seven straight times in the Twin Cities. The Nets haven't won in Minneapolis since Nov. 23, 2002.