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Nets aim to end eight-game slide

Jan 27, 2008 - 2:25 PM New Jersey (18-25) at Minnesota (7-35) 6:30 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The reeling New Jersey Nets look to end their season-high eight-game losing streak Sunday when they face the league-worst Minnesota Timberwolves.

New Jersey continued its downward spiral with Friday's 100-85 setback to the Denver Nuggets despite another triple-double from All-Star Jason Kidd.

"We just didn't have the energy and they did," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. "They were much more aggressive and really attacked us in the paint."

The Nets could use more offensive support from swingman Vince Carter, who has only reached the 20-point plateau three times during this current slide.

Minnesota squandered a fourth-quarter lead in having its season-high two-game winning streak stopped with Friday's 87-86 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics.

Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson is also looking to bounce back after seeing his streak of five straight double-doubles come to an end Friday.

In nine career outings against New Jersey, the 23-year-old Jefferson is averaging 14.2 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 54 percent.

Minnesota and New Jersey split two meetings a season ago, but the Nets haven't captured a victory at the Target Center since November 23, 2002.