Timberwolves 116, Mavericks 108
MINNEAPOLIS -- Forward Kevin Martin scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half and forward Kevin Love provided the knockout punch as the Minnesota Timberwolves ended a two-game winning streak with a 116-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday ngiht at Target Center.
In a game that was close much of the night, Martin had 12 fourth-quarter points for the Wolves (4-2) clung to the lead until the closing moments.
Then, coming out of a timeout with the Wolves up 105-102, Love hit a step-back 3-pointer with 2:12 left in the game. After Monta Ellis missed at the other end, Love hit a fallaway jumper to push the lead to 110-102 with 1:13 left. Moments later, out of a timeout, Martin scored to push the Wolves' lead to 10.
The Mavericks (3-3) never challenged again, losing their second straight game.
Love, who had a double-double by halftime, had 32 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, coming two assists short of his first career triple-double. Corey Brewer scored 17 points and center Nikola Pekovic had 15 for the Wolves, who finished the game on an 11-3 run.
Dallas was led by Ellis' 23 points. Jose Calderon had 21 and Dirk Nowitzki added 14.
The Wolves improved to 3-1 at home and Dallas remained winless on the road at 0-3.
The Wolves came out moving the ball. And with Love picking up six first-quarter assists and Brewer running himself into fast breaks, the Wolves took an early 10-point lead against the Mavs, who opened the game shooting 2 of 10 from the field.
But the Mavericks pulled to within four entering the second quarter and then took over the momentum against a Wolves bench that struggled again. The score was tied 32-32 when the Mavericks went on a 10-5 run to take a lead they held for the rest of the half. The two teams went back and forth until Brewer's dunk at the halftime buzzer pulled Minnesota within 56-55.
It appeared the Wolves were ready to take over the game when Martin -- who had 11 third-quarter points - scored nine points in a 16-4 run that gave the Wolves a 77-66 lead. But the Mavericks came right back, with Calderon hitting two 3-pointers in a 13-2 run. J.J. Barea buried a 3-pointer and Brewer scored before Dejuan Blair's putback cut the Wolves lead to 85-81 entering the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Dallas F/G Vince Carter was suspended for Friday's game, without pay, for throwing an elbow and making contact with C Steven Adams' head in Dallas' game with Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The foul, for which Carter was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 4:01 left in the third quarter. "It's a big loss for us," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We'll have to make up for it other places." ... The Wolves will have played a franchise-record 18 games by Nov. 30 this season. ... Brewer spent the latter part of the regular season and the playoffs in Dallas when the Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011. He said he learned a lot from the experience. "You've always got to be ready," he said. "You have to work your butt off and be ready." ... Carlisle called Martin one of the best pure scorers in the league the last few seasons. "He's very underrated, in my opinion," Carlisle said. ... Wolves F Derrick Williams missed the game with back spasms.
