Timberwolves Score Last 9 Points, Beat Nets 98-91
NEW YORK (AP) — Nikola Pekovic converted a tiebreaking three-point play with 48 seconds left, and the Minnesota Timberwolves scored the final nine points of the game to beat the Brooklyn Nets 98-91 on Wednesday night.
Kevin Martin led the Timberwolves with 26 points and rookie Andrew Wiggins, playing in the arena where he was taken by Cleveland with the No. 1 pick in the draft, added 17.
Joe Johnson had 22 points for the Nets (2-2), who had won their last two games. Deron Williams added 19.
Johnson had given the Nets a 91-89 lead with 1:28 remaining before the Timberwolves' finishing push.
Minnesota had a 72-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter but was shaky to start the period, committing three turnovers that helped the Nets to a 10-0 run and a 76-72 lead on Williams' 3-pointer with 8:19 left.
Johnson scored three straight points to give Brooklyn a 91-89 lead with 1:28 to go before Ricky Rubio, who had 14 points and 12 assists, beat Brook Lopez and Williams to the basket for a layup that evened it at 91 with 1:17 left.
After a bad pass by Johnson that was picked off by Thaddeus Young, Pekovic made a layup and hit a free throw to give the Timberwolves the lead for good, 94-91.
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TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Pekovic and Young both had double-doubles. Pekovic finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Young added 10 points and 11 boards.
Nets: Lopez scored 10 points but shot just 5 of 14 in his second game back from a sprained right foot. ... Brooklyn was just 11 of 17 (65 percent) from the free throw line. The Nets came in averaging 17 attempts per game.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Visit Orlando on Friday.
Nets: Host New York on Friday.
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