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Timberwolves send Wizards to 0-8

Jan 9, 2012 - 1:20 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Kevin Love totaled game highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds as Minnesota kept Washington winless with a 93-72 decision at Verizon Center.

Derrick Williams scored 14 points for the Timberwolves, who snapped a two-game slide. Wayne Ellington, Luke Ridnour and Ricky Rubio all added 13 points apiece, with Rubio dishing out a game-best 14 assists.

"From the very start, we set the tempo. Everybody contributed at both ends of the floor. It wasn't just one guy," said Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman. "We wanted to get the first road win of the year under our belt and see if we can build on that."

Nick Young and Trevor Booker each recorded 14 points for the Wizards, who extended their franchise-worst start to any season by dropping their eighth straight game.

Trailing for the majority of the contest, the Wizards were down 48-34 at the half, but made a brief run before the midway point of the third, closing within 54-47 with 6:26 to go on an alley-oop slam from JaVale McGee.

But the T-Wolves broke open the game again, countering with a 12-4 run to go up 66-51. Ridnour began the spurt with a triple, Love connected on three straight free throws after a technical foul called on Trevor Booker, and Williams ended the charge with back-to-back shots from long distance.

Anthony Tolliver ended the period with a trey and Minnesota led 75-60 heading to the fourth.

Love's slam pushed the T-Wolves' edge to 89-68 with 6 1/2 to play and the Wizards had no answer.

"There's really not much to say. Disappointment and embarrassment doesn't come close," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. "My job over the next couple days is to try and find out a way to get all the guys on this team playing up to their expected level."

Minnesota led 20-17 after one quarter, and opened up a 34-22 advantage with 7:42 left in the half on Anthony Randolph's lay-in.

The visitors were up 41-30 on a driving layup from Tolliver with 3:48 to go, and back-to-back shots from Love -- the final one a three-pointer -- put Minnesota up by 14 at the break.

Game Notes

Minnesota snapped a seven-game losing streak in America's capital, dating back to December 12, 2003...Love has recorded a double-double in each of the first eight games this season...Coming in, Washington had won six of the last eight meetings...The previous franchise-worst start to a year was 0-5, set by the 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets, as well as the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Washington Wizards.