Nuggets 100, Timberwolves 85
Kenneth Faried posted his second straight double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds as visiting Denver knocked off Minnesota to stay undefeated under interim coach Melvin Hunt.
Will Barton scored 17 points off the bench and Danilo Gallinari scored 16 for the Nuggets, who dismissed coach Brian Shaw early Tuesday and have since won back-to-back games. Jameer Nelson collected 12 points and nine assists in a reserve role for Denver, which dropped 19 of its final 21 games under Shaw.
Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points while Ricky Rubio had 10 points and 10 assists for the Timberwolves. Gary Neal scored 13 points off the bench and Kevin Garnett contributed 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting as Minnesota dropped its fourth straight game.
Barton hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 14-0 run through the middle of the second that left the Nuggets on top 46-32. Gallinari had a 3-pointer and a dunk in a 7-2 spurt closing the quarter that sent Denver into the break in front 60-43.
Garnett scored on back-to-back possessions to pull the Timberwolves within 10 three minutes into the third but Chandler responded with a 3-pointer to kick off an 11-2 spurt that spread the advantage to 19. The Nuggets settled for a 77-65 cushion heading into the fourth and Minnesota was within 89-78 with 5:09 to play before Denver scored on four straight possessions to put it away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Faried failed to record a double-double in any of his final six games under Shaw. … The Nuggets built up a 19-3 lead in fast-break points. … Timberwolves C Nikola Pekovic (ankle) returned from a one-game absence but was limited to six points and five rebounds in 15 minutes.