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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota is the NBAs youngest team, averaging 23.6 years of age, yet the youthful Timberwolves entered the season with the hope of finally breaking the franchises long playoff drought.The Wolves, however, arent jelling quickly under new coach Tom Thibodeau, and a Tuesday home loss to the Charlotte Hornets didnt sit well. They will try to turn it around Thursday when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers.Minnesota (3-7) had won two of three games before Tuesday, and the offenses performance was among the best in the league. Then the Hornets pulled away with a big second half to beat Minnesota, leaving the Timberwolves development as a postgame topic.We could use youth as an excuse forever; your opponent doesnt care that youre young, Thibodeau said. Weve got guys whove been in the league for a while now, were making mistakes that never should be made -- from fouling jump shooters, reckless passes, turnovers -- its all decision-making.The 76ers (2-9) know youthful mistakes, too. Philadelphia, the fourth-youngest team in the league, opened the season with seven straight losses. On Wednesday, the 76ers won for the second time in four games as they held onto a big lead at home to beat the Washington Wizards 109-102.Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said there was just a poise level that was fantastic.The 76ers shot 54.5 percent and had 30 assists (on 42 field goals), both season highs.Just resilient, forward Richaun Holmes said. Just determined to do anything we had to do to get a win, and we are able to stick it out to the end against a tough Washington team. Were getting better.Holmes knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minutes to help finish off the Wizards on Wednesday. Jahlil Okafor scored a season-high 19 points before fouling out. Philadelphia rested rookie center Joel Embiid, its leading scorer and rebounder who missed the past two seasons following a pair of foot surgeries.Embiid is expected to play Thursday. Brown will have both of his young centers at his disposal. Okafor is expected to play and be limited to 16 to 20 minutes.It was my teammates talking to me, Coach Brown challenging me before the game to attack, be aggressive, make good decisions; and it really benefited me, Okafor said.Embiids absence for the home game before leaving for a road trip caught some by surprise.Its just the rhythm that the medical staff has put him on, Brown said. And I think you look back -- back-to-back-type games and those types of things, with the time in between, they felt like ... if we had a choice, this game was going to be it. So I follow the marching orders of smarter people than myself.Embiid will be needed on the road at Minnesota. The 76ers have lost 20 straight games on the road, equaling the second-longest road slump in team history.Okafor should match up occasionally with Minnesotas Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns was drafted No. 1 overall by Minnesota last year, with Okafor picked third by Philadelphia. Towns has lived up to the top-draft status and is averaging 22 points and eight rebounds per game this season.However, Towns took Tuesdays loss to Charlotte particularly tough.I just have to play better, Towns said. All these losses, they fall on me. Its something Ive got to control. Its something that Ive got to be able to help us as much as possible. Third quarter, Im just not doing enough for us, and Ive got to do better.Minnesota is the leagues top-scoring team in the first quarter but the worst in the third period. The Timberwolves were outscored 36-17 in the third by the Hornets.Thibodeau was asked if Tuesdays loss was a step back for his young team.Its the commitment to improve and to learn, to not repeat the same mistakes over and over again, Thibodeau said. A big part of learning is trial and error, so when you go through something and it doesnt work, you should learn from it; the second time around, it shouldnt be the same way. That has to change. That has to change, and it has to change fast. Mike Piazza Dodgers Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Corey Seager Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-clayton-kershaw-jersey/ .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Chris Taylor Dodgers Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Julio Urias Dodgers Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach.Thierry Henry and Jamie Redknapp discuss the Premier League relegation battle and predict a fight to the finish for Norwich, Newcastle and Sunderland. The two sides from the north east drew their respective games this weekend, with the Magpies coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Liverpool and the Black Cats holding Arsenal to a stalemate on Super Sunday.Norwich were not in action this weekend but did drop into the bottom three after Sunderlands result, both sides holding a game in hand over Newcastle. The current positions and run-in for the bottom three of the Premier League With just one point separating the three clubs, the Sky Sports pundits were unable to choose between the sides with Redknapp calling the relegation fight a lottery.Its very difficult. I think if youd said to Alex Neil at the start of the weekend that neither Newcastle nor Sunderland would win, I think hed have taken that, Redknapp said on Super Sunday. Jack Colback earned Newcastle a 2-2 draw at Liverpool Hell be looking at those fixtures and thinking, Watford at home, Everton away - if we can go and get four points, maybe weve got a good chance.Its not been too bad a weekend for Norwich. Theyve got Arsenal next - its not an easy game but if they defend well, you never know. Its a lottery, its a toss of the coin, it really is. Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce thought his side did enough in the second half to win their game against Arsenal but is happy witth a vital point following Crystal Palace now have an FA Cup final to look forward to.dddddddddddd Newcastle are also playing against an Aston Villa side that are down and have given up.Theyll also be hoping Tottenham have nothing to play for - it could be a bit after-the-Lord-Mayors-Show, that game. Newcastle have it all to do but Ive been down in that position - you try to predict results and the one you expect to win, you dont. Could Crystal Palaces FA Cup date give Newcastle an advantage? Henry identified the recent run of Sunderland and Newcastle as crucial for their survival, and also pointed to what he sees as a big advantage for Sam Allardyces men.Its a tough one. The only thing Id say is that momentum is with Sunderland and Newcastle with their results, the former Arsenal striker added. Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez was delighted with his team after they came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Liverpool You could say that Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are easier games for Newcastle - theyve less to play for than some of the other opponents.But you have to mention the goal difference of Sunderland - its minus 18 compared to the other two (seven better than Norwich, eight better than Newcastle). That could be massive.Who will stay up? Leave a comment if youre reading on skysports.com or Tweet us @SkyFootball... 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