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Ridnour's trey lifts T'Wolves over Nets

Feb 4, 2012 - 4:59 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Luke Ridnour made the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:23 remaining, as the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the New Jersey Nets, 108-105.

Nikola Pekovic added 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have won three in a row on the road for the first time since April 3-8, 2009. Kevin Love also had a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards.

Anthony Morrow ended with a career-high 42 points for the Nets, who have lost three of four. Morrow went 8-for-11 from beyond the arc.

Deron Williams tallied 12 points and 14 assists, while Kris Humphries added 16 points and nine rebounds.

"He was just on fire. Our guys were finding him, setting great screens for him, he was letting it fly," Nets head coach Avery Johnson said of Morrow. "Every play that we drew up for him, he executed it perfectly. I think he was perfect and special tonight. It was a special performance."

Pekovic's layup with 1:55 to play made it a 99-99 game. After Williams turned the ball over, Ridnour made a three-pointer from the corner to give Minnesota the lead.

Following misses from each team, Williams had the ball stripped away by Ridnour. The refs ruled that the ball went out of bounds off Minnesota. The visitors showed their displeasure with the call and a review ensued. It was determined that the ball hit off Williams' hip before going out.

Ridnour then made two free throws to give the Timberwolves a 104-99 lead with 25.7 seconds to go.

But Morrow kept New Jersey in the game with a rare four-point play. Wesley Johnson fouled Morrow as his three-point attempt went in. A successful foul shot cut the gap to 104-103.

J.J. Barea and Ridnour each made two free throws around a Humphries slam to make it 108-105 with 10.2 ticks left on the clock.

Williams turned the ball over on a bad pass to seal the Nets' fate.

"This win was definitely a character builder because they learn what they learn what they have to do down the stretch of games," Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman said. "The Nets have a lot of injuries but Morrow had it going and Deron Williams is a handful. Give our guys credit, they withstood it."

Each team went on a big run in the first half. Trailing by four, 15-11, Minnesota bridged the first and second quarters with a 25-7 surge. Michael Beasley tallied nine points during the burst, including a short jumper with 8:14 left until half for a 36-22 lead.

The Nets promptly responded with a 28-9 run to go back in front. Morrow made four three-pointers en route to 15 points during the flurry. His shot from beyond the arc with 1:33 to go made it a 50-45 game.

Martell Webster's trey and Anthony Tolliver's free throw cut the gap to 50-49 at the break.

Down by one, 59-58, with 7:38 left in the third quarter, the Timberwolves scored 12 straight points to grab a 70-59 edge.

New Jersey scored six straight points moments later and was down by just five, 80-75, after three periods.

The Nets opened the fourth on an 11-4 run to take an 86-84 edge with over 9 1/2 minutes to play.

Game Notes

New Jersey and Minnesota split a pair of meetings last season, as each team prevailed as the host. The Timberwolves are 11-5 in the past 16 matchups in this series...Minnesota went 29-for-32 from the foul line...New Jersey went 10-for-21 from beyond the arc...Ricky Rubio had 10 points and 10 assists for Minnesota.