Kings 113, Timberwolves 101
DeMarcus Cousins notched his sixth straight double-double with 31 points and 18 rebounds as visiting Sacramento topped Minnesota.
Ben McLemore finished with a season-high 22 points and a career-high nine rebounds for the Kings, who snapped a three-game road losing streak. Darren Collison had 19 points and Rudy Gay contributed 14 for Sacramento.
Rookie Andrew Wiggins broke out for a season-high 29 points to go along with four steals to pace the injury-riddled Timberwolves, playing again without four starters. Corey Brewer registered 14 points and both Mo Williams (11 points, 12 assists) and Gorgui Dieng (12 points, 10 rebounds) had double-doubles in a losing effort.
Dieng scored twice in the final minute of the first half to help Minnesota secure a 52-48 lead at the break but Sacramento slowly seized control in the third quarter. McLemore hit three 3-pointers and a layup in under four minutes to give the Kings a 72-62 advantage en route to an 84-77 lead entering the fourth.
Chase Budinger's 3-pointer a minute into the final stanza got the Timberwolves within 86-82 but Derrick Williams answered with one of his own and Cousins' back-to-back baskets put Sacramento up 95-84 with seven minutes left. Wiggins had a layup with 3:11 to go to make it a five-point game before Collison's 3-pointer and Cousins' dunk opened it back up and the Kings sealed it at the line.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Timberwolves F Anthony Bennett had 10 points and six rebounds in his second career start. ... Sacramento had a 50-37 advantage on the boards and made 25-of-30 free throws. ... Brewer was whistled for a technical foul with 15.6 seconds left.