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Love, Timberwolves cruise past Hornets

Feb 8, 2011 - 6:39 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Kevin Love led the way with 27 points and 17 rebounds, posting his 37th straight double-double, as the Minnesota Timberwolves earned an easy 104-92 decision over the New Orleans Hornets.

Michael Beasley added 14 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with a leg injury for the Timberwolves, who picked up only their third win in the last 17 games. Minnesota is now 3-23 on the road this season.

Jonny Flynn had 13 points and six assists in the victory, but also committed six turnovers. Nikola Pekovic and Anthony Tolliver each netted 12 points apiece for Minnesota.

"We came out in the second half and started to turn the ball over," Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said. "We're trying to get the guys to understand how well and effective they can play when they move the basketball."

David West had a team-best 18 points for New Orleans, which suffered a 101-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and has dropped three in a row and five of six since a 10-game winning streak. Chris Paul turned in a solid game with 17 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in defeat.

"I'm just tired of (not) putting together a complete effort on both sides of the ball." West said. "We haven't been defending the way we are supposed to."

Tied at 23-all after the opening quarter, New Orleans took a one-point lead in the early stages of the second, before Love's three-point play started 13-4 run. He then finished it off with a triple to put the Timberwolves up 39-31 with 6:37 before the half.

After Marco Belinelli hit from beyond the arc for New Orleans a short time later, Minnesota went on an 8-2 surge and were up 50-38 after Tolliver hit from long distance. The Timberwolves took a healthy 60-46 edge into the locker room.

Pekovic's jumper nearly 2 1/2 minutes into the third had the visitors in front by 17, 67-50, but Paul scored six points in a 10-0 run to help the Hornets get within seven with 7:15 left.

Love made a layup and a pair of free throws to close out the quarter and the Timberwolves were ahead 82-70 after three.

The fourth quarter was no contest, as Minnesota opened with an 11-2 burst to go up by 21 at 93-72 following Beasley's dunk with 7:50 remaining and Minnesota would never let the Hornets threaten the outcome the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, New Orleans is still 13-5 in the last 18 matchups versus Minnesota...Minnesota shot 43 percent from the field and hit 11 three- pointers...The Hornets made 41.7 percent of their shots and fell to 20-7 at home this season...Timberwolves center Darko Milicic left in the first quarter with a left hip flexor strain and did not return.