Timberwolves 113, Lakers 90
Kevin Martin scored 27 points and Kevin Love had 25 points and 13 rebounds as visiting Minnesota ended its 22-game losing streak against Los Angeles.
Love (18) and Martin (16) combined for 34 points in Minnesota’s franchise-record 47-point opening quarter to set the tone for the Timberwolves’ first win over the Lakers since a double-overtime victory on March 6, 2007. The Timberwolves made 16-of-21 first-quarter shots – including 7-of-9 from 3-point range – and led by as many as 28 in the quarter.
Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio had a splendid all-around game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists and five steals for his second career triple-double. Nikola Pekovic had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Corey Brewer scored 17 points as all five starters scored in double digits.
Steve Blake scored 19 points and made five 3-pointers for the Lakers, who lost for the fifth time in seven games. Jodie Meeks added 16 points for Los Angeles, which shot just 38 percent.
The Timberwolves had a 67-48 halftime lead before Los Angeles rallied to cut its deficit to 90-76 entering the fourth quarter. The Lakers trailed by 15 early in the final stanza before Love’s three-point play began an 11-0 run that gave Minnesota a 26-point edge midway through the quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota was 10-for-20 from 3-point range with Love making four and Martin hitting three. … Lakers PF Pau Gasol had 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting and is averaging 7.3 points on 9-of-34 shooting over the last three games. … The Timberwolves also snapped a 13-game road losing skid against Los Angeles.