Milwaukee @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2019 ) Minnesota 96, Milwaukee 118

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't need Karl-Anthony Towns in order to skip past the Washington Wizards, but a stiffer test awaits. The Timberwolves will once again be without their star center when they host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

Towns was handed a two-game suspension after an on-court fight with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in a 117-95 road loss on Wednesday but watched his team bounce back in a big way as Andrew Wiggins led a balanced effort in a 131-109 win at Washington on Saturday. "It's a good feeling," Wiggins told reporters. "I feel like every time we win it's getting better. It's letting us know we can beat these teams as long as we play together and play within the system." The Bucks are coming off an emotional win over the Toronto Raptors in a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals and again look like a team capable of battling for an NBA title. "We've got to get better," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "We've got to be in the moment; we cannot stop playing, we cannot relax. People are coming after us; nothing's going to be given to us. It doesn't matter if we made the Eastern Conference finals last year and we won 60 games - nobody's going to give us 60 games."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (4-2): Antetokounmpo collected 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, 15 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in Saturday's win and prevented his team from squandering a big lead - something that has become a problem early. The Bucks squandered leads of at least 19 points in losses to Miami and Boston and were proud of the way they were able to avoid another loss on Saturday. "I think a lot goes in tonight, but to get the win and find a way to sustain the run they (had) in the second and third quarter," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. "Proud of the way our guys sustained the run, find a way to win."

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (4-1): Gorgui Dieng barely got off the bench in the first four games but got the start in place of Towns on Saturday and delivered 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes. "He's capable," Wiggins told reporters of Dieng. "He's one of our best big defenders, a great defender. He's a real professional. Even though he wasn't playing, he made sure he stayed ready and was ready to play. Whenever he got his chance, he maximized it." Robert Covington added 20 points in Saturday's win while Jeff Teague enjoyed his best game of the young season with 15 points and 13 assists.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves rookie SG Jarrett Culver scored 20 points on Saturday after totaling 12 points in the first four games.

2. Bucks SG Wesley Matthews (ankle) left Saturday's game and is day-to-day.

3. Milwaukee took the two meetings last season by an average of 21 points.

PREDICTION: Bucks 121, Timberwolves 108