Sports

Love, Martin lead Wolves to 109-100 win over Knicks for a 3-0 start

Associated Press
Published | Updated

New York Knicks' Tyson Chandler (6) dunks the ball in front of Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio (9), of Spain, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (The Associated Press)

New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony (7) drives past Minnesota Timberwolves' Dante Cunningham to dunk the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (The Associated Press)

Kevin Love had 34 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, Kevin Martin scored 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves improved to 3-0 for the first time in 12 years with a 109-100 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday night.

Minnesota took a huge lead after a 40-point first quarter, then pulled away after the Knicks trimmed it to two in the closing minutes to move halfway to matching the 2001-02 team that set the franchise record by winning its first six.

The Timberwolves, averaging a whopping 37.3 points in the first quarter, are healthy again after an injury-wrecked 2012-13 and showing the early promise of a team that can contend for its first playoff berth since 2004.

Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks, who have dropped two straight after a season-opening victory and drew some loud boos in the first half while appearing to be standing still on defense.