Timberwolves-Miami game preview: No rest? No problem in recent back-to-backs
Wolves at Miami
7 p.m. Saturday at FTX Arena; BSN, 830-AM
Wolves update: The Wolves have won their past two games playing on no rest with wins over Golden State and Portland over the past two weeks. The Wolves still have a net rating of -3.5 in games played on the tail end of back-to-backs. They are 5-7 in such games. Their defensive rating is 116.8 points allowed per 100 possessions, which would rank last in the league. The Wolves defeated the Heat 113-101 at Target Center on Nov. 24. Anthony Edwards had 33 points in that game while Jarred Vanderbilt had 15 rebounds.
Heat update: Former Wolves forward Jimmy Butler missed Wednesday’s game because of an illness but was in the lineup for Friday’s 117-105 victory over Cleveland, scoring 24 points. The Heat is 4-7 when playing on the tail end of back-to-backs. Its net rating is minus-1.1. Overall, Miami has the fifth-best defensive rating in the league at 107.5 and was first in the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat gives up the fewest points in the paint per game (40.6).
