Kings at Timberwolves
THE STORY: Kevin Love will be serving the first part of a two-game suspension when the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Love was punished by the NBA for the incident in which he stomped his foot into the face of Houston’s Luis Scola on Saturday. Love insisted it was an accident but the league viewed if differently after studying the video. Love apologized after getting word he was being suspended. “I don’t want to be known for that,” Love said. “I want to be known as a standup guy who happened to make a mistake with a size 19 shoe and just move on. So everybody knows there were no ill intentions there.” Love leaves the NBA with 22 double-doubles and is averaging 25.0 points and 13.7 rebounds. Sacramento has won three straight games and defeated New Orleans 100-92 on Monday for only its third win in 14 road games. DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points and 19 rebounds.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (Kings), FS North (Timberwolves)
ABOUT THE KINGS (9-15): Cousins has put together back-to-back monster efforts. He had 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in Saturday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors before posting his 16th double-double of the season against the Hornets. Cousins is averaging 15.0 points and 11.2 rebounds in his second NBA season and has responded better to new coach Keith Smart after sparring with former coach Paul Westphal.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (12-12): First-round pick Derrick Williams figures to see more minutes with Love sidelined. The former Arizona standout has struggled to get playing time and has received 37 minutes over the last four games. He has started twice earlier this season and averaged 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the games against the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. Williams, the No. 2 overall pick, is averaging 7.3 points and 18 minutes per game.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Minnesota defeated Sacramento 99-86 on Jan. 16 when Love had 33 points and 11 rebounds and Luke Ridnour scored a season-high 25 points.
2. Kings guard Tyreke Evans is averaging 23.4 points over the last five games and scored 20 or more points in four of them.
3. Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio has 10 or more assists in seven of the last nine games.