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Nuggets visit Wolves

Jan 5, 2015 - 3:42 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to end an ugly 11- game losing streak Monday night when the Denver Nuggets invade the Target Center.

The Timberwolves haven't won since a shocking Dec. 10 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Minnesota has dropped five straight as the host, including the first two on this four-game homestand.

After opening the residency with a three-point loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, the Timberwolves fell to the Utah Jazz on Saturday, 101-89.

Minnesota was led by Andrew Wiggins' and Mo Williams' 20 points each. Gorgui Dieng scored 10 and no other Timberwolves player managed double figures.

Wiggins and Williams combined to score 10 points in the first three minutes of the final quarter in a 10-2 run that pulled the Timberwolves within eight and forced a Jazz timeout.

Minnesota did not get any closer after that. A Derrick Favors slam dunk out of the timeout extended the lead back to double digits, and it remained there for the rest of the game. Trey Burke scored 11 points in the final nine minutes to help the Jazz put the game away.

"Like I told our guys in there, don't think it can't get worse," said Minnesota coach Flip Saunders. "It definitely can."

The Wolves finish this stay on Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns.

The Nuggets ended a three-game skid on Saturday with a 114-85 demolition of the Memphis Grizzlies at the Pepsi Center.

Ty Lawson scored 25 points, handed out 11 assists and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Nuggets. Lawson's backcourt mate, Arron Afflalo, chipped in 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting.

Kenneth Faried scored 13 points and pulled down 13 boards, and Jusuf Nurkic contributed 11 points, 10 boards and five blocks off the Nuggets' bench. Wilson Chandler managed 15 points and J.J. Hickson also scored 11 for the reserves.

"We wanted to jump on them early, especially in this altitude," said Faried. "Tonight we really showed that this altitude and our style of play can really get to people."

In a game where the hosts took 31 trips to the line compared to Memphis' 13, frustration boiled over late in the third. After a Tony Allen foul was called in transition with 3:39 remaining, Grizzlies coach David Joerger was ejected when he quickly accumulated two technical fouls coming out onto the floor to argue the call.

After their coach was tossed, the Grizzlies were outscored 14-5 as the Nuggets led 83-60 after three. At the end of the period, Nurkic and Nick Calathes were assessed technical fouls after a heated argument between Nurkic and Gasol. Gasol took exception to Nurkic's two blocks just as the quarter ended.

Denver took the first meeting this season between Northwest Division foes, ending a two-game series winning streak for the Timberwolves. The teams have split the last six contests at the Target Center.