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Timberwolves vie to regroup against Kings

Mar 18, 2012 - 3:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Timberwolves must get their act together on this current road trip if they have any plans on making a playoff run. Tonight the Wolves will resume a seven-game trek against the Sacramento Kings.

The Timberwolves are just two games off the eighth and final postseason berth in the Western Conference, but have dropped two straight and four of five games following a three-game winning streak. They fell to 1-2 on the road swing with Friday's 97-92 setback against the Los Angeles Lakers, as Kevin Love notched 27 points and 15 rebounds in defeat.

Nikola Pekovic added 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Luke Ridnour chipped in 12 points and 11 assists for the Wolves, who haven't been the same since losing rookie point guard Ricky Rubio for the season because of a torn ACL in his knee. Minnesota has lost 19 in a row to the Lakers.

"We have to play with more urgency if we want to stay in this," said Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman. "We shouldn't just talk about it, we have to do it. We have to show it."

Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley (toe) is questionable against the Kings and has missed the last two games. He is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 boards.

Minnesota will also visit the Warriors, Spurs and Thunder on the road trip and is 10-11 away from the Twin Cities this season.

The Kings will resume a franchise-record nine-game homestand this evening and won for only the third time in the past 10 tries with Friday's 120-95 blasting of the Boston Celtics.

Marcus Thornton had a season-high 36 points and five steals, and had scored nine in each of his previous two games. Jason Thompson added a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while DeMarcus Cousins tallied 20 points and seven boards for Sacramento, which is 3-3 so far on the residency and 11-9 in California's capital this season.

"It felt like an away game," Thornton said. "We wanted to show our fans that we have heart and determination to win games."

Sacramento, which scored a season-high in points and had a 41-23 advantage in the third quarter, beat Boston for the first time since a 104-101 triumph in California's capital back on February 20, 2007 and ended an eight-game slide in the series. It will also host the Grizzlies and Jazz on the homestand and is last in the Pacific.

Thompson is shooting 82.6 percent from the field and averaging 21.0 points and 15.0 rebounds in his last two games. Rookie Isaiah Thomas recorded a double- double with 13 points and 10 assists versus Boston. Kings swingman Tyreke Evans did not play Friday because of a sprained ankle and is questionable. He is posting 17.1 ppg this season.

Sacramento has lost the first two meetings with Minnesota this season and the two clubs will square off again April 2 at the Kings.