A couple of Humpty Dumptys -- teams desperate for someone to put them back together again -- square off today in Minnesota.

This afternoon's game pits the tumbling Timberwolves, losers of six straight, against underachieving Utah, losers of 4-of-5

 
Today's game is crucial for Minnesota, which is desperately trying to stop its slide.

Midway through the season, the Timberwolves stood atop the Midwest Division, a half-game away from owning of the best record in the NBA. Going into today"s game, they stand in fifth place in the Western Conference, with the Portland Trail Blazers breathing down their necks.

"At some point," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said in a bit of gallows humor, "because of the way we"re playing, we"re going to bust out and win six or seven games. My hope is that it will be this year."