• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wolves kick off road trip vs. Pistons

Mar 2, 2011 - 3:53 PM (Sports Network) - The struggling Minnesota Timberwolves begin a three-game road trip against Eastern Conference opponents, starting with tonight's showdown with the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Timberwolves will also visit Philadelphia and Washington on the road swing and are only 4-25 away from the Twin Cities this season. They just completed a four-game homestand with a 1-3 record and dropped a 90-79 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday at the Target Center.

Kobe Bryant led the two-time defending champions with 24 points, while Wolves All-Star Kevin Love registered his NBA season-record 47th consecutive double- double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Love is now just four games away from matching Moses Malone's all-time record for consecutive double-doubles set from Dec. 29, 1978-Oct. 12, 1979.

Wesley Johnson had 20 points in defeat for Minnesota, which has lost eight of its previous nine games.

Detroit is only 2-7 in its last nine games and is coming off Tuesday's 92-90 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

Rodney Stuckey scored a game-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists, while Greg Monroe added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who have been mired in controversy lately with players allegedly taking a stand against head coach John Kuester.

"We had wide open looks, we just couldn't knock them down," Kuester said. "You can't come up empty in a game like this, every point is so important."

Richard Hamilton added 10 points in just his second game since January 10, and has reportedly been dealing with issues in the front office. Charlie Villanueva contributed 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench and Ben Gordon supplied 10 points in defeat.

Guard Tracy McGrady (illness), another suspect in the rumored fallout with Kuester, and forward Tayshaun Prince (back) are both questionable for tonight's game.

Minnesota and Detroit are meeting for the first time since the Wolves handed the Pistons a 109-99 setback on Dec. 10 in the Twin Cities. The Pistons have won eight of the past 11 meetings with the Timberwolves.