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Nuggets, Wolves duke it out in Denver

Dec 26, 2014 - 3:17 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Timberwolves hope to put the brakes on a six-game losing streak when they resume a four-game sojourn Friday against the Northwest Division-rival Denver Nuggets.

The Timberwolves were handed a 125-104 loss by Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday from Quicken Loans Arena. Love scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in his first game against his former team, after he joined forces with LeBron James in Cleveland this offseason.

Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 pick in this summer's draft, was involved in the Love deal and scored 27 points. Gorgui Dieng had a season-best 20 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost six in a row and 12 of their last 13 games to fall to 5-22 on the season.

"Before the game even started when we were in the locker room, it was just a different atmosphere," Wiggins said. "Emotions were a lot higher than they usually are. I think it's obvious this is a motivation game for me."

Shabazz Muhammad posted 18 points for the T-wolves, who made 44.3 percent from the field and fell to 1-21 when allowing 100 or more points. Cleveland used a 16-1 run to finish the third quarter.

Minnesota, which is also 1-21 when trailing after three quarters and being outshot, has lost six straight on the road and has a 2-11 record away from the Twin Cities this season.

The Wolves still have to visit Golden State and Utah on the jaunt.

Denver enters Friday's game having won only three times in the previous 12 contests and dropped its second in a row with Tuesday's 102-96 setback against the Brooklyn Nets.

Ty Lawson scored 29 points to go with nine assists and Kenneth Faried had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Denver, which lost in Charlotte to open the brief two-game trek and had an 87-86 lead at one point. Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler both netted 11 points.

"We just did some unfundamentally sound things," Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said.

Shaw was referring to the 18 turnovers and 7-of-25 3-pointers. The Nuggets, losers in six straight on the road, managed to record a 51-39 advantage in rebounds.

The Nuggets are scheduled to play three straight at home and will also entertain the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers. They are 8-6 at the Pepsi Center this season.

Denver and Minnesota will play the first of four matchups this season and the division foes split four games in 2013-14. The Nuggets are 7-2 in the last nine as the host against the T-wolves.