Kevin Love collected 20 points and 14 rebounds for his 38th consecutive double-double as the Minnesota Timberwolves won back-to-back road games for the first time in nearly two years with a 112-108 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
Wayne Ellington scored 18 points off the bench and Jonny Flynn added 15 and seven assists for Minnesota, which improved to 4-23 on the road. The Timberwolves had not won consecutive road games since April 7-8, 2009 and also had lost eight straight visits to Houston.
The Rockets entered the fourth quarter with an 85-83 edge and scored the first basket of the frame but could not find a way to put away the Timberwolves. The lead changed 11 times in the final quarter, with Kevin Martin and Love going back and forth before Love found Ellington for a long jumper with 2:16 remaining that put Minnesota up for good, 105-104.
Chuck Hayes got to the line with a chance to put Houston on top again but missed both free throws with 1:08 on the clock. Ellington and Love each hit 3-pointers in the final minute to seal it for the Timberwolves.
Martin and Courtney Lee scored 23 points apiece and Luis Scola chipped in 22 for the Rockets.
Minnesota | Houston | |
Kevin Love 20 | Scoring | Courtney Lee 23 |
Jonny Flynn 7 | Assists | Luis Scola 7 |
Kevin Love 14 | Rebounds | Chuck Hayes 13 |
Kevin Love 5 | Free Throws Made | Kevin Martin 9 |
Jonny Flynn 1 | Steals | Chuck Hayes 5 |
Wesley Johnson 4 | Blocks | Shane Battier 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Minnesota | 112 | 51.1 | 8-18 | 14-18 | 22 | 51 | 6 | 1 | 15 |
Houston | 108 | 45.1 | 7-28 | 19-23 | 22 | 31 | 2 | 10 | 7 |