Minnesota Timberwolves Stop The Milwaukee Bucks In Their Tracks 117-95
By Sarita Kelly
The Minnesota Timberwolves are back to their winning ways after they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-95.
Forward Kevin Love scored 33 points for the night. In just 35 minutes, Love went 11 of 17 from the field, made 4 of 6 3-pointers and pulled down 15 rebounds to go along with six assists. He paced a Timberwolves offense that shot 48 percent from the field and was 11 of 24 from beyond the arc.
Dec 28, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center
Nikola Pekovic(14) drives the ball to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilasova (right) defends during the first quarter at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
And both Kevin’s were on fire tonight. Kevin Martin (15-15) and finished with 20 points and 2 rebounds. Nikola Pekovic had 19 points and 11 rebounds and forward Corey Brewer added 12 points.
Milwaukee Khris Middleton led the Bucks (6-24) with 23 points and nine rebounds. O.J. Mayo had 19 points off the bench and Brandon Knight finished with 18 points and five assists.
The Bucks (6-24) shot well early but had problems holding on to the ball. Milwaukee had 16 turnovers led and that lead to 25 points for Minnesota.
Milwaukee shot 56 percent from the field in the first half but turned the ball over nine times for 14 Minnesota points and struggled to contain the Timberwolves inside, where Love scored 18 on 7-of-11 shooting from the field (3 of 4 3-pointers) as Minnesota went ahead by as many as 14 points and led 64-55 going into the break.
The Timberwolves opened the second half on a 14-0 run to boost the lead to 78-55. Mayo finally got Milwaukee on the board with a 3-pointer with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
But Minnesota outscored Milwaukee 39-21 in the quarter and Timberwolves Coach Rick Adelman turned to his bench. He ultimately sent Love, Pekovic and Ricky Rubio back in after Minnesota went 1 of 17 from the field with seven turnovers to open the fourth quarter; allowing Milwaukee cut the lead to 17 with five minutes to play.