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Love takes control, leads T'Wolves over Warriors

Mar 20, 2012 - 7:13 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Love had 36 points and 17 rebounds on Monday, leading the Timberwolves to a 97-93 win over the Warriors.

Luke Ridnour added 11 points and Anthony Tolliver had 10 for Minnesota, which halted a three-game slide. Still, the Timberwolves are just 2-4 since starting point guard Ricky Rubio was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

"We were able to distribute the ball well," Love said. "Different guys stepped up. This is what needed to happen tonight."

Golden State retired Hall of Famer Chris Mullin's No. 17 jersey at halftime and fittingly overcame a 17-point deficit during the contest before eventually dropping its fourth straight game.

David Lee had 25 points and nine rebounds, while recently-acquired Richard Jefferson scored 19 for the Warriors, who played their fifth straight game without shooting guard Stephen Curry.

The 17-point deficit came minutes before Mullin's ceremony, when Wesley Johnson connected on a three for a 49-32 Minnesota advantage. Dorell Wright answered with a trey at the buzzer, making it 49-35 at the break.

Wright's three, coupled with a spirited ceremony, which featured adamant booing of Golden State owner Joe Lacob, ignited the Warriors in the third. They outscored the Timberwolves, 32-22, and took a 62-61 lead on Klay Thompson's trey with three minutes left in the quarter.

They were still up one, 85-84, in the fourth when Minnesota took control.

Tolliver knocked down a three and Love followed with a jumper for an 89-85 advantage with four minutes left. Lee responded with 1-of-2 free throws but a Love putback and a Tolliver basket on the Timberwolves' next trip made it 93-86, effectively putting the game away with less than two minutes to go.

Mullin scored 17,911 career points and the Warriors would have appreciated his talents in Monday's early going.

They went scoreless for the first five minutes of the game, finally breaking through on Lee's layup. In all, they shot 6-of-21 in the quarter and trailed 21-14 entering the second.

During halftime, Mullin was forced to interrupt his own ceremony to address the booing of Lacob. The owner has drawn the fans' ire, largely for trading leading scorer Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for injured big man Andrew Bogut. Head coach Mark Jackson addressed the incident after the game.

"Pulling the trigger on a Monta Ellis trade is not easy," said Jackson. "But we understood that it was a play that put us in a position where the future is awfully bright. We talked about it, this is a process, and we're gonna keep on battling."

Game Notes

Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea had a season-high 10 assists...Jefferson's 19 points tied a season-high. He was acquired from San Antonio at the trade deadline...Mullin, a five-time All-Star, played 13 seasons with the Warriors...Curry has a sprained right ankle.