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The Wolves return home to Target Center after splitting a four-game road trip. Now the team has two chances this week to break an eight-game home losing streak, starting tonight against the Mavericks who are coming off a big road win yesterday over the Grizzlies.
Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis combined to score 46 points in the Mavs' 103-95 win and now face a Wolves defense allowing an abysmal, NBA-worst 112.4 points per 100 possessions. On the bright side, it sounds like Kevin Martin (wrist) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle) will finally return this week, perhaps as soon as tonight.
Saunders said both Martin and Pekovic will be game-day decisions. Both soundclose. I'd say good chance at least one of the two play tomorrow
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) January 20, 2015
Rubio participated in contact drills for the first time today. Getting closer but looks like Martin and Pek as soon as tomorrow. RR not yet
— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) January 20, 2015
Kevin Martin says he will decide tomorrow if he plays or not. Depends on how he feels when he wakes up. Sounded optimistic though
— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) January 20, 2015
Martin hasn't played since dropping 37 on the Knicks with a broken right wrist on November 19. Pekovic last played in Dallas on November 15 and hasn't taken the court since, as he's dealt with a sore right ankle and sprained right wrist. The two have played in only nine games apiece, but appear ready to play any day now.
As for Shabazz Muhammad, he should remain out of the lineup for at least another week with an abdominal strain. He was initially ruled out for two weeks on January 13, so we'll have to see how quickly he can progress in his recovery.
***
Andrew Wiggins will receive the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for December prior to tip-off against the Mavs. There's no question about it, he'll also be taking home the hardware for the month of January. Through 10 games this month he's averaging 21 points, 5.2 rebs, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 37.7 minutes per game.
Wiggins has turned the corner in January. He's posting highs in true shooting percentage, effective field goal percentage, offensive rating, assist percentage and usage, as well as defensive rebound percentage, total rebound percentage and steal percentage (if the two games from October are thrown out). The growth in his game offensively, over the last month, has been outstanding to watch.
| G | GS | MP | TS% | eFG% | ORB% | DRB% | TRB% | AST% | STL% | BLK% | TOV% | USG% | ORtg | DRtg | GmSc | |
| October | 2 | 2 | 21.2 | 0.432 | 0.464 | 2.7 | 15.6 | 9.3 | 7.3 | 3.6 | 0 | 23.6 | 22.5 | 72 | 101 | 2.5 |
| November | 13 | 13 | 29.9 | 0.486 | 0.434 | 4 | 11.9 | 7.7 | 6 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 15 | 21.5 | 91 | 116 | 6.7 |
| December | 15 | 15 | 33.9 | 0.475 | 0.424 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 6.6 | 9.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 9.8 | 21.7 | 95 | 114 | 8.4 |
| January | 10 | 10 | 37.7 | 0.574 | 0.519 | 3.7 | 13 | 8.2 | 13.2 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 9.9 | 23.8 | 114 | 114 | 15.7 |
That's about all I have for now. Time for some music...