Kevin Love’s triple-double lifts Timberwolves
Kevin Love had 37 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, the first triple-double of his career, and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the Utah Jazz, 121-104, Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
Minnesota was again playing without starters Nikola Pekovic (ankle) and Kevin Martin (finger), but Love filled the void, keeping one step ahead of the Jazz throughout the game. He compiled all his statistics in just 32 minutes to earn a spot on the bench for the final nine minutes of the Timberwolves’ third runaway win over the Jazz this season.
Ricky Rubio had 15 points, and Corey Brewer and Chase Budinger scored 13 apiece as Minnesota won a third consecutive game for only the third time this season.
Enes Kanter couldn’t stop Love, but had success against him on the offensive end, scoring 25 points for the Jazz, which dropped its third in a row after a season-best three-game win streak.
at Charlotte 92, Memphis 89: Kemba Walker scored 31 points and the Bobcats won for the fourth time in five nights, despite an off night for leading scorer Al Jefferson, who had only six points on two-for-13 shooting. Charlotte, a surprising seventh in the Eastern Conference, is 4-0 since the All-Star break, its longest winning streak since March 2011.
at Atlanta 107, New York 98: Mike Scott had a career-high 30 points, Jeff Teague scored 28 and the Hawks snapped an eight-game losing streak. Carmelo Anthony finished with 35 points for the Knicks, who blew a double-digit third-quarter lead for the second straight night and fell 51/2 games behind Atlanta for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Indiana 110, at Milwaukee 100: Paul George scored 32 points and David West tied a season high with 30, and the Pacers hung on to avoid embarrassment against the NBA’s worst team. Lance Stephenson had 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Indiana, which had lost three of its previous five.
at Washington 94, New Orleans 93: Nene matched a season high with 30 points, including a go-ahead dunk with 0.9 of a second left that gave the Wizards the win.
at Sacramento 105, Boston 98: Seven Kings scored in double figures, including all five starters.
at Golden State 93, Brooklyn 86
—Associated Press
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