Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) at Minnesota Timberwolves (1-4), 8 p.m.

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Two of the top rookie point guards meet in the Twin Cities Friday as the Minnesota Timberwolves hope to put the brakes on a four-game skid when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at Target Center.

The Wolves had two lottery selections this past June and selected Spanish star Ricky Rubio and Syracuse standout Jonny Flynn, passing up the dynamic Brandon Jennings, who was subsequently taken 10th by the Bucks.

While Rubio decided to stay in Spain, Flynn has earned the starting point guard spot in Minnesota and Jennings has taken the controls in Milwaukee.

Both have excelled. Flynn is averaging 13.8 points and 3.6 assists for Minnesota and Jennings has been even better for Milwaukee, netting 22.0 points and 5.3 helpers a contest.

The Wolves came up with a bit of a moral victory in the opener of a two- game homestand Wednesday, coming up just short against one of the NBA's true heavyweights, the Boston Celtics.

Rajon Rondo had 18 points and six assists in that one as the Celtics hung on to edge Minnesota and remain unbeaten for the 2009-10 season. Kevin Garnett, the former franchise player in Minnesota, contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Oleksiy Pecherov had a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting for the T'Wolves, who have lost four straight since winning their season opener. Pecherov scored 15 points in the second half and demolished his old career high by nine points.

Al Jefferson added 18 points, and Corey Brewer had 13 in defeat. Flynn scored 10 points and dished out five assists for Minnesota.

"It was fun, but I wish we could have gotten the win," Minnesota's Ramon Sessions said. "We're not feeling good about this just because it was close. We should have gotten the win. There's no moral victories in this league."

The Bucks, meanwhile, are also coming off a tough loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Derrick Rose's dunk in the fourth quarter of that one sparked a game-changing 9-0 Chicago run that led to the Bulls' 83-81 victory over Milwaukee.

Jennings had 25 points and Andrew Bogut 16 with 13 boards for the Bucks, who fell to 1-2. Hakim Warrick and Charlie Bell had 10 points each with Warrick adding 10 rebounds.

On the injury front, Milwaukee remains without its top scoring threat, guard Michael Redd, who will miss at least two weeks after experiencing soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee. Redd underwent surgery last March to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he left Saturday night's game against Detroit during the third quarter with discomfort in the knee.

Minnesota has won three straight against Milwaukee and nine of the last 10 contests in the series at the Target Center.

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