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Love and Timberwolves take down Sixers

Jan 7, 2014 - 3:49 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Love poured in a game-high 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 126-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Kevin Martin scored 18, Corey Brewer and Nikola Pekovic added 15 and 16 points, respectively, while the latter had 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which has won four of its last six. J.J. Barea scored 13 points and Alexey Shved and Dante Cunningham contributed 10 points apiece for the visitors.

Thaddeus Young netted 20 and James Anderson had 14 points for the 76ers, who had a four-game win streak snapped. Evan Turner and Michael Carter-Williams totaled 13 points apiece, while the latter added seven assists.

The first 12 minutes was a back and forth affair, which showcased seven lead changes and four ties. A Brewer trey with 7:14 on the clock gave the T-Wolves a seven-point lead, their largest of the quarter.

Philadelphia, however, battled back and held a one-point lead three times before the quarter closed out. Minnesota carried a three-point advantage, 32-29, into the second.

The opening five minutes of the second witnessed much of the same action as the first, with five ties but only one lead change. The fifth tie came, with 7:06 remaining, after a Carter-Williams layup, however, the Wolves closed out the half on a 24-8 tear.

"Just a really solid win for us. We came out at the start of the game and played well all the way through," said Timberwolves head coach Rick Adelman. "We did a pretty good job of keeping them in the halfcourt and passed the ball and shot the ball well."

Minnesota led by 16 points, 70-54, at the halfway point on the strength of its late half surge.

"We moved the ball well. The second unit really came in and played great in the second quarter. It set us up and we finished off that second quarter very strong. Then we really didn't look back from there," said Love. "We moved the ball extremely well. And we played better defense in the latter three quarters. It was a good win for us tonight."

The Wolves carried over their momentum to begin the second half with a 14-6 run through the first 3 1/2 minutes of the third. The 76ers traded baskets with Minnesota during the next four-plus minutes before the Wolves rattled off nine straight to end the quarter and stretch their lead to 31 points.

"I do think that there is a physical side of what you saw tonight, but the mental side of it upsets me far more. I feel that, I see that, far more than I do a fatigue factor," said Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown.

Philadelphia managed to come within 24 points, with 4:24 left to play, after a Daniel Orton 3-point play but the Timberwolves had the game well in hand for much of the second half.

Game Notes

The 76ers Tony Wroten was did not play due to flu-like symptoms ... Luc Mbah a Moute did not dress for Minnesota due to a strained left groin ... Philadelphia is now 1-15 when Turner fails to score at least 22 points ... Philadelphia has lost five straight matchups against the Timberwolves ... The 76ers travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Tuesday ... Minnesota hosts the Phoenix Suns Wednesday.