Charlotte Hornets hope to tame the Timberwolves in Minnesota

Playing on the road in the NBA is never easy. With only one road win in four chances, this definitely holds true for the Charlotte Hornets. Nevertheless, the Hornets will look to improve that record against the new look Minnesota Timberwolves.

It’s difficult to judge most teams this early in the season. That being said, the Charlotte Hornets have certainly struggled on the road thus far. It’s a small sample size, but there is room for concern. With three games left on their road stint, the Hornets can improve on that. It won’t be easy, however, as they face a formidable Timberwolves team in Minnesota.

The Hornets (5-4) enter the second game of their four-game road trip against the Timberwolves (6-3). Charlotte is coming off a 108-101 loss to the Spurs in San Antonio. They are tied for fourth in the East. The Timberwolves are playing for the second straight day, coming off a 112-99 win against the Mavericks in Minnesota. They are currently tied for second in the West.

This will be a tough one for the Hornets. The Timberwolves can hurt you in a lot of ways. The trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, and Andrew Wiggins is averaging just over 58 points a game. Their multi-faceted attack will surely give the depleted Hornets quite the test.

Charlotte Hornets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

8 p.m. EST, Sunday, November 4th, 2017

Target Center

Broadcast on FOX Sports Southeast

Injury Report:

CHA:

Nicolas Batum – Left Elbow

Julyan Stone – Hamstring

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Personal

MIN:

Justin Patton – Foot

Things to keep an eye on:

Defending Minnesota’s “big three” will prove to be quite difficult. Most people know what Karl Anthony-Towns brings, but Butler and Wiggins are both shooting very well so far themselves, making 44% and 43% respectively. Not only can they score, they can do it fairly efficiently. In fact, Minnesota as a team ranks 6th in the NBA in overall field goal percentage, making 47.5% of their shots. They’re also 7th in the league in points per game, at just over 109 points. If the Hornets can keep up, this should be a high scoring affair.

Keys to the game:

Dwight Howard will need to use his physicality to try and mitigate Karl Anthony-Towns. The real question is how to stop Butler and Wiggins. Last season, Butler averaged 33.6 points a game vs the Hornets, including a 52 point effort in January. In two games against Charlotte, Wiggins scored 29 points. Needless to say, defense will be a priority. If not, then this could get away from the Hornets very quickly. If the Timberwolves go cold, however, grabbing every rebound they can will help limit second-chance points. Kemba Walker will need to set the tone offensively as well.

Next: A look back at Larry Johnson's legacy

The going won’t be easy Sunday night, but Hornets have toppled two top teams already this season. Here’s hoping another one falls tonight in Minnesota.

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