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Stoudemire paces surging Knicks past Timberwolves

Dec 7, 2010 - 6:48 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Amare Stoudemire scored 34 points and pulled down five rebounds, as the New York Knicks used a big third quarter to take down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 121-114, at Madison Square Garden.

Wilson Chandler added 21 points and five assists for the Knicks, who have won five in a row. Raymond Felton donated 18 points and 11 assists for New York, which got 17 points from Danilo Gallinari.

"It takes a team effort to really step up, and that's what we've done so far," Stoudemire said.

Kevin Love scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 15 boards for the Timberwolves, who have lost eight of their past 11 games. Michael Beasley tallied 25 points and six rebounds, while Luke Ridnour donated 16 points in defeat.

Minnesota shot a sizzling 76.2 percent from the field over the first 12 minutes of action to take a 36-32 lead. New York was also on fire from the floor in the first quarter with a 65-percent shooting performance.

Toney Douglas and Felton got the second stanza started with a layup and three- pointer, respectively, to give the Knicks a 37-36 edge. Minnesota surged back in front and held a 64-53 lead on Love's two free throws with 3:06 remaining.

The Timberwolves took a 68-61 margin into the locker room.

Trailing by nine, 74-65, early in the third period, the Knicks put together a 17-3 run to go ahead. Felton tallied eight points during the burst, including a layup with 5:16 left to make it an 82-77 game.

Holding a one-point lead, New York scored the final five points of the third to build a 92-86 margin heading to the fourth. The Knicks outscored the Timberwolves, 31-18, in the third.

Beasley made a pair of free throws with 5:11 to play to cut Minnesota's deficit to 100-96. Shawne Williams' trey and Stoudemire's slam quickly gave New York a nine-point lead.

The Knicks were able to make their foul shots down the stretch, and the Timberwolves never got closer than four the rest of the way.

"The thing that has hurt us the most has been turnovers," said Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis. "It has plagued us as a young team."

Game Notes

Minnesota had won two straight over the Knicks, including a 112-203 win at Target Center back on November 12 in which Love recorded 31 points and grabbed a franchise-record 31 rebounds, the NBA's first 30-30 game in 28 years...Williams had 13 points...Minnesota turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 28 points for the Knicks.