Sacramento, CA – Kevin Love scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 24 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 97-89 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
"It was one of the most complete games I've seen him play. He wasn't forcing anything. He passed the ball. He set screens. He did whatever we needed," Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman said.
Luke Ridnour had 18 points and five assists and Nikola Pekovic scored 16 to go along with eight boards and four assists for the Wolves, who snapped a five- game skid.
Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists and Malcolm Lee chipped in with 10 points in the victory.
DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans each scored 20 points and Marcus Thornton had 12 points off the bench for the Kings, who have alternated wins and losses the past four games following a five-game skid.
"Too many mental miscues down the stretch," Kings head coach Keith Smart said.
Minnesota lead 83-74 with eight minutes left following Love's slam, but the Kings chipped away and pulled within 91-89 with 1:20 left. Sacramento, however, couldn't get a basket the rest of the way as the Wolves outscored the Kings 6-0 over the final 80 seconds.
Minnesota took a 27-26 lead after the first quarter after shooting 63.2 percent (12-for-19) from the field. Kirilenko, Pekovic and Ridnour each netted six in the frame and Love chipped in with five over the first 12 minutes.
The Wolves led 48-45 at the break, despite shooting 8-for-21 from the floor, and were able to push their cushion to 75-67 after three. Love dropped in nine points in the third and grabbed 10 boards while Ridnour chipped in with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Game Notes
Love's 24 rebounds were a season high. His career high is 31 ... The Wolves out-rebounded the Kings 51-36 ... The Kings forced 17 turnovers.
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