Love Has 37 And 23, T'Wolves Beat Warriors 126-123
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Love had 37 points and 23 rebounds to extend his NBA-leading double-double streak to 46 games, and the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a seven-game skid with a 126-123 victory over the struggling Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Love had his fourth 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season as the Timberwolves overcame a 14-point deficit and avoided extending their longest losing streak of a frustrating season. The All-Star forward also went 18 for 23 from the free throw line to tie Minnesota's franchise records for attempts and makes.
The Warriors, meanwhile, lost their third straight since the All-Star break. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 33 points while Dorell Wright added 26.
Golden State had a chance to win in the final seconds after trailing by as many as 17 in the fourth. But Monta Ellis had his shot swatted away by Wes Johnson as he drove the lane with just more than 3 seconds to play. Michael Beasley picked up the loose ball and was fouled. Anthony Tolliver hit two free throws on the ensuing possession, and the Warriors turned the ball over on the final inbounds play.
After scoring a season-high 73 points in the first half, the Warriors managed only 16 in the third quarter on a terrible 5-for-27 performance from the floor, dooming their chances against the lowly Wolves.
Minnesota started 7 for 9 from the floor and shared the ball well early before becoming stagnant on offense. Meanwhile, Wright, Ellis, Curry and David Lee took turns getting hot for Golden State, as the Warriors built a 14-point lead in the second quarter.
Notes: The Warriors arrived in Minnesota on Saturday night and immediately went through a practice. "Get them in the gym, get them breathing, and also get the bad taste of the last game out of our system," coach Keith Smart said. ... Timberwolves G Martell Webster (back) missed his third straight game. Before the game, coach Kurt Rambis declined to comment on whether he would consider shutting down Webster for the rest of the season, saying he would need more information from the team's medical staff before being able to make a decision like that. ... Minnesota G Jonny Flynn admits he didn't expect a complete recovery from offseason surgery on his left hip would take so long. "I think it's really going to take a full summer of just going after it every day, really focusing completely on my rehab to get where I need to be," he said.
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