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Kings top Timberwolves

Apr 3, 2012 - 6:52 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Tyreke Evans came close to a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lift Sacramento to a 116-108 victory over Minnesota on Monday.

DeMarcus Cousins added 20 points and nine rebounds, Isaiah Thomas posted 17 points and Terrence Williams added 12 points and 12 boards for the Kings, who came into the game having dropped five of six.

Kevin Love totaled 23 points and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped their past three. Nikola Pekovic added 17 points and Luke Ridnour donated 13 points and six assists in the loss.

The first quarter was tight, but Jimmer Fredette buried a three-ball in the closing moments to give the Kings a 33-30 lead after 12 minutes.

"We were able to go out there and play well from the beginning," said Fredette. "They're fighting for [a playoff spot] and we knew they were going to play as hard as they possibly can so we had to break their will a couple of times."

A 12-0 run in the second quarter extended the Kings' lead to 49-37 after a Williams layup with six minutes to play, but the Timberwolves answered with a 10-2 burst to help close the gap and trailed by seven, 65-58, at the break.

Consecutive three-pointers from Wesley Johnson in the middle portion of the third gave Minnesota its first lead since the opening quarter at 73-72, but Thomas answered with two from the line and Donte Green followed with a three- pointer.

Sacramento eventually took a one-point lead, 87-86, into the fourth and opened the final frame with 11 unanswered points as the Timberwolves didn't score until 4 1/2 minutes in when Love put in a jumper.

The deficit proved to be too much as Sacramento hit its free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

"I thought our team really committed ... and that's what we have to do if we're going to turn this around," said Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, whose team is 4 1/2 games out of a playoff spot.

"We're not going to quick on this season, that's what I told [my players]. I don't care what happens with the playoffs, we're not going to quit on the season. We have to turn this around."

Game Notes

Both teams won twice in the season series...Sacramento hosts Phoenix on Tuesday...Minnesota hosts Golden State on Wednesday...Sacramento shot 50.6 percent and grabbed 46 boards, while Minnesota made 48.1 percent of its shots and grabbed 35 rebounds.