Timberwolves 117, Bucks 95: Kevin Love racked up 33 points and 15 rebounds for his league-leading 27th double-double and visiting Minnesota pulled away to snap a three-game road losing streak.
Kevin Martin scored 20 points and Nikola Pekovic added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have notched back-to-back 22-point wins. Corey Brewer scored 12 points and former Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute contributed eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Khris Middleton collected 23 points and nine rebounds and O.J. Mayo added 19 points off the bench for the Bucks, who have lost six of seven at home and eight of nine overall. Brandon Knight scored 18 and Larry Sanders contributed nine points and 10 rebounds in his second game since returning from a torn ligament in his thumb.
Minnesota led by nine at halftime and broke it open with a red-hot third quarter, going 13-for-20 from the field while outscoring Milwaukee 39-21 during the period. The Timberwolves opened the quarter with a 14-0 run and the Bucks didn't get within 20 again until the final two minutes.
The Bucks kept it close for most of the first half, shooting 55.8 percent and getting 28 points from Knight and Middleton. It was a five-point game with 1:05 left in the half before Love hit a 3-pointer and Pekovic made one of two foul shots for a 64-55 halftime advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Love has scored 25 or more points in 10 straight games, the longest streak in the NBA this season. … Middleton and Knight each have scored in double figures in eight straight games, the longest streaks of their careers. … Sanders, who came off the bench Friday, started in place of John Henson (ankle).
Minnesota | Milwaukee | |
Kevin Love 33 | Scoring | Khris Middleton 23 |
Ricky Rubio 8 | Assists | Brandon Knight 5 |
Kevin Love 15 | Rebounds | Larry Sanders 10 |
Kevin Love 7 | Free Throws Made | Brandon Knight 5 |
Ricky Rubio 6 | Steals | Giannis Antetokounmpo 4 |
Nikola Pekovic 1 | Blocks | Giannis Antetokounmpo 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Minnesota | 117 | 47.8 | 11-24 | 20-29 | 33 | 52 | 2 | 14 | 18 |
Milwaukee | 95 | 44.9 | 5-22 | 10-17 | 25 | 43 | 6 | 12 | 20 |