Love's Double-Double Streak Ends In Warriors Loss
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Stephen Curry had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors ended Kevin Love's four-month run of consecutive double-doubles in a 100-77 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright added 16 points apiece for Golden State, which has already won four more games under first-year coach Keith Smart than it did last season.
Love had 12 rebounds but scored only six points on 1-of-6 shooting, ending his streak of double-doubles at 53 games. It was the NBA's longest streak since Elvin Hayes did it in 55 consecutive games in 1973-74.
Love made his first shot of the game early in the first quarter but couldn't get much going after that and was held under 10 points for the first time since going scoreless against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 19.
The Warriors, who rallied from 21 points down to beat Orlando in overtime on Friday, trailed early before pulling away from the hapless Timberwolves.
Golden State led by five at halftime, went on a 13-2 run coming out of the break, then cruised the rest of the way in a battle of two teams going nowhere this season.
Minnesota had no response and shot just 36.6 percent from the floor while losing for the fourth time in six games. The 77 points were a season-low for coach Kurt Rambis' team.
Love's streak has been the only thing keeping the Timberwolves (17-51) in the headlines these days. Not anymore.
While Love did his part on the boards, he struggled to do anything offensively against Golden State's David Lee. Paired against Love most of the night, Lee repeatedly denied the ball in the low post and kept Love from scoring off offensive rebounds, something that had become of staple of the streak.
After sitting the final 2 minutes of the third quarter and the first 3-plus minutes of the fourth, Love returned in the fourth but scored just one point as Minnesota struggled to get him the ball.
When Love checked out of the game for good with 4:08 left to play, a section of Warrior fans chanted "Your streak's over."
None of the Timberwolves did much either and Minnesota lost to Golden State for the third time in four games this season.
The Warriors, who set a franchise record with 21 3-pointers in Friday's win over Orlando, cooled off considerably from beyond the arc -- though it hardly mattered. Golden State led by as much as 24 and got a lift off from reserve Lew Amundson.
Amundson had 11 points and seven rebounds, helping overcome center Andris Biedrins' sluggish night. Biedrins had just six rebounds and was held scoreless.
Wright made a 3-pointer and a fast-break layup on consecutive possessions to give the Warriors a 62-46 midway through the third quarter. Curry later added a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth when Golden State led 92-70.
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