Minnesota @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2018 ) Sacramento 106, Minnesota 111

The Minnesota Timberwolves survived their first game without All-Star guard Jimmy Butler and they will try to make it two in a row when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Butler is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks due to surgery on his right knee following an injury Friday in Houston, but the Timberwolves coasted in his absence the following night at home.

Jeff Teague finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the 122-104 win over Chicago as Minnesota entered Sunday alone in third place in the Western Conference. "The worst part was getting the news about Jimmy," Teague told reporters. "That's our guy, man. He makes us go. He's our engine and he's our leader, so to see him go down, man, it's always tough. But you know, we've got a lot of talented guys in this locker room. We've just got to step up and play together and still try to collect some wins." The Timberwolves claimed two earlier meetings with the Kings at home by an average of 14 points and aim for a sweep of the season series for the second time in the last three years. Sacramento has dropped three in a row - all by single digits - after Saturday's 113-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (37-26): Teague was one of three players to score more than 20 points and two others reached 19 in the win over the Bulls as Minnesota improved to 3-4 without Butler in the lineup this season. "I think this is the recipe, because like I said, you have guys who have big nights on particular nights," veteran Jamal Crawford - one of those two 19-point scorers - told the media. "But overall, something that's sustainable, I think it has to be a collection of guys, and I think this is hopefully a look at what it can look like." Teague is averaging 20 points on 60 percent shooting over the last five games, including a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists in a 111-106 win over Sacramento on Feb. 11.

ABOUT THE KINGS (18-41): Sacramento's commitment to its youth has led to some messy play late in games, but within those tight losses are indications of a brighter future. "We lost, but I like the way the team is coming along," second-year guard Buddy Hield told the Sacramento Bee after scoring 21 points against the Lakers. "Especially how coach let the young guys play and figure it out at the end. We made some dumb plays and we made some great plays. It'll all work itself out. If it's not this year, but next year, another year." Rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic also had 21 points and 24-year-old center Willie Cauley-Stein produced his first double-double in over a month with 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his 53rd double-double in the win over Chicago, 10 more than any other player in the NBA entering Sunday.

2. Kings PG De'Aaron Fox recorded 13 points and six assists against the Lakers after missing one game due to conjunctivitis.

3. Sacramento lost eight of its last nine at home.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 108, Kings 104