Pacers 107, Timberwolves 91: Roy Hibbert scored a season-high 27 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as host Indiana bounced back from a lopsided loss at Miami.
Paul George scored 17 points and George Hill added 16 as the Pacers averted a season sweep at the hands of Minnesota.
Ricky Rubio followed up his first career triple-double with 21 points and 10 assists and Luke Ridnour scored 17 as the Timberwolves were denied in their bid for consecutive wins for the first time since mid-December.
Indiana shot a blistering 71.4 percent in the opening quarter and rode 17 points from Hibbert to a 62-54 halftime edge. George hit a 3-point and a jumper in a 9-0 run as the Pacers opened a 16-point lead and took an 82-69 edge into the fourth.
Minnesota used a 7-0 burst to pull within 82-76 early in the fourth but Orlando Johnson hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to double digits and scored 10 of his 12 points in the quarter to help Indiana pull away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: David West had 13 points and 10 rebounds to help Indiana dominate the glass 49-36. ... Timberwolves F Kevin Love visited his surgeon Wednesday and learned his broken right hand is healing properly, but he has not been cleared for contact and will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks. ... Rubio's 21 points tied his season high from Tuesday, when he also had 13 rebounds and 12 assists in a rout of San Antonio.
Minnesota | Indiana | |
Ricky Rubio 21 | Scoring | Roy Hibbert 27 |
Ricky Rubio 10 | Assists | George Hill 6 |
Greg Stiemsma 9 | Rebounds | Roy Hibbert 12 |
Ricky Rubio 7 | Free Throws Made | Roy Hibbert 7 |
Ricky Rubio 3 | Steals | George Hill 3 |
Greg Stiemsma 2 | Blocks | Roy Hibbert 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Minnesota | 91 | 43.8 | 6-19 | 15-18 | 19 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
Indiana | 107 | 50.0 | 9-25 | 16-26 | 22 | 49 | 6 | 8 | 12 |