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Timberwolves blast slumping Bobcats

Jan 11, 2014 - 6:43 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Nikola Pekovic poured in a game-high 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 119-92 win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Kevin Love and Kevin Martin finished with 19 points apiece for the Timberwolves, who had dropped three of five entering the contest, with Love also pulling down 14 rebounds,

"He [Nikola Pekovic] played really well. He got great position and we really had good ball movement tonight. The ball really didn't stop. Pek was doing a great job at making (Al) Jefferson work," said Wolves coach Rick Adelman.

Anthony Tolliver scored 21 points off the bench and Chris Douglas-Roberts finished with 16 for the Bobcats, losers in seven of their last eight games.

Minnesota held a 29-28 lead after the first quarter. The T'Wolves quickly opened up a double-digit lead just under three minutes into the second with an 11-2 surge.

Charlotte was able to get within eight, 42-34, following Kemba Walker's jumper, but the Wolves then went on a 24-9 run to stretch their spread to 66-43 before taking a 68-48 lead into the break.

Minnesota's lead swelled to 31, 88-57, with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third and the Bobcats never got closer than 23 the rest of the way.

"They set the tone for the game with their drives and offensive rebounds, but they scored right away in the paint, which is their game," said Bobcats coach Steve Clifford. "It's their biggest strength. Against them our perimeter defense has to be particularly good, so we're not on rotations, not in help, which opens up Pek to be on the glass. We didn't do a good job with our perimeter defense early and they made us pay."

Game Notes

Minnesota won the battle of the boards by a 54-33 margin ... The Wolves shot 54.5 percent (48-for-88) from the field ... Walker finished with 15 points and seven assists in the setback.