Minnesota Sports Briefs: T-Wolves host Jazz this evening

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MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Timberwolves hit the hardwood this evening as they host the Utah Jazz at the Target Center.

The Wolves had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 103-101 overtime loss at Denver on Monday to fall to 16-and-17 on the season. Minnesota is off the rest of the week. They depart on a four-game road trip starting next Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Tonight's game begins at 7 p.m.

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Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors will play for "Team Chuck" in Friday's Rising Stars Challenge in Orlando. Favors is replacing injured Spurs forward Tiago Splitter. Favors will be joined on "Team Chuck" by Jazz guard Gordon Hayward. Wolves players Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams will also play in that game.

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The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team face a stiff conference test this evening as they host sixth-ranked Michigan State at Williams Arena. The Gophers have dropped three straight games to fall to 17-10 on the season. They suffered a 64-53 setback at Northwestern on Saturday to dip to 5-9 in the Big Ten. Minnesota lost to Michigan State earlier this season in East Lansing.

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The Minnesota Wild are back on the ice tomorrow evening as they depart on a brief two-game road swing against the Florida Panthers at the BankAtlantic Center. The Wild snapped a seven-game slide with a 2-0 win over Boston on Sunday to improve to 26-24-9 on the season. Minnesota wraps up the road trip on Friday against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.

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St. Louis Blues forward Jamie Langenbrunner of Cloquet is on injured reserve with a broken left foot. He suffered the injury during Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 36-year-old is expected to be reevaluated in four weeks. Langenbrunner has four goals and 17 assists this season.

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Here is this week's schedule of first round games in the 2012 Girls' State Minnesota High School hockey tournament at the Xcel Energy Center:

Class 1-A: Wednesday - Warroad vs. Detroit Lakes, 11am

Class 1-A: Wednesday - New Ulm vs. South St. Paul, 1pm

Class 1-A: Wednesday - Breck School vs. Chisago Lakes, 6pm

Class 1-A: Wednesday - Hutchinson vs. Red Wing, 8pm

Class 2-A: Thursday - Roseville Area vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway, 11am

Class 2-A: Thursday - Edina vs. Mounds View, 1pm

Class 2-A: Thursday - Eagan vs. Minnetonka, 6pm

Class 2-A: Thursday - Roseau vs. Lakeville North, 8pm

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Two University of Minnesota men's hockey players have won weekly honors from the WCHA. Minnesota goaltender Kent Patterson of Plymouth was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week, while forward Kyle Rau of Eden Prairie is the conference's Freshman of the Week. The Gophers swept Bemidji State last weekend to remain all alone atop the standings. North Dakota forward Corban Knight of High River, Alberta is the Offensive Player of the Week.

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The University of Minnesota moved to the top spot in this week's National Wrestling Coaches Association poll. The Gophers beat No. 4 Iowa and top-ranked Oklahoma State over the weekend in a national dual meet tournament. The Gophers will next compete in the Big Ten championships in early March.

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St. Cloud State junior outfielder Brian Hansen of Cold Spring is this week's NSIC Baseball Player of the Week. He went 7-for-9 in the Huskies doubleheader sweep of Minot State. Minnesota-Crookston sophomore pitcher Matt Korte of St. Cloud was named the conference's Pitcher of the Week after tossing seven shutout innings in a win over Valley City State last week.

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The NSIC has named its weekly award winners in softball. Winona State infielder Kim Wachholder of Salem, Wisconsin is the Player of the Week, while her teammate Stacey Struzynski of Homewood, Illinois is the Pitcher of the Week. The pair of players helped the Warriors open the season with a 4-1 record last week.

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A Minnesota musher and his dogs are basking in the glow of another win in the UP 200 Sled Dog Race. Ryan Anderson of Ray won his third consecutive race, finishing this year's route in Grand Marais, Michigan on Sunday. The race began near Marquette and usually ends there but because of a lack of snow, racers took a different route this time around.

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