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T-Wolves have easy time against ailing Nets

Nov 23, 2013 - 6:05 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Love tallied 17 points and 16 rebounds in just 28 minutes as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 111-81 win over the struggling Brooklyn Nets at Target Center.

Kevin Garnett scored the game's first points with a 14-foot jumper, but the Timberwolves' Corey Brewer responded with a 3-pointer at the other end. Minnesota never trailed after that.

Kevin Martin scored 17 points for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game losing skid. Brewer and Nikola Pekovic dropped in 15 points apiece, while Ricky Rubio went for 12 points and eight assists.

"We had 28 assists and eight turnovers. It was a good win," said Minnesota coach Rick Adelman. "We needed to get this one before we go on the road and they went out and got it."

Andray Blatche paced the shorthanded Nets with 16 points off the bench. Joe Johnson netted 15 points as the lone starter in double figures for Brooklyn, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.

"The big thing for this group is we have to (improve) together," said Nets coach Jason Kidd. "But the actions have to kick in at some point. We're not doing that on either end."

Deron Williams and Brook Lopez both missed the contest for Brooklyn with ankle injuries. Lopez missed his third straight while Williams sat for the third time in four games after playing 13 minutes against Charlotte on Wednesday.

Brooklyn shot just 4-for-19 for 14 points in the first while Minnesota grabbed nine offensive boards en route to 15 second-chance points. The Wolves led 30-14 after the first period.

A Rubio jumper at the 6:50 mark of the second pushed Minnesota's lead to 40-20, and Brooklyn hardly threatened after that.

The Wolves led 57-37 at halftime.

Martin came alive in the third quarter, netting 11 points on 4-of-5 from the floor after shooting just 2-of-11 in the first half.

No starters registered minutes in the fourth as the game was well out of reach.

Game Notes

Minnesota outscored Brooklyn 17-7 in transition ... Love now has 13 double- doubles in 14 games this season ... Tyshawn Taylor and Alan Anderson scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Nets ... Minnesota will play four of its next five games on the road, starting with a trip to Houston on Saturday.