National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 114, Detroit 101
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, March 7, 2014
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Officials: #20 Leroy Richardson, #66 Haywoode Workman, #17 Joe Crawford
Attendance: 16242

Timberwolves 114, Pistons 101: Kevin Love recorded 28 points, 14 rebounds and five assists as Minnesota rolled over visiting Detroit for its seventh victory in the last nine games.

Kevin Martin contributed 24 points while Nikola Pekovic chipped in with 17 points and nine boards as the Timberwolves led by as much as 31 in the third quarter. Ricky Rubio added 11 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals for Minnesota, which held the Pistons to 40.4 percent shooting.

Greg Monroe led the way with 20 points and 15 rebounds as Detroit dropped its eighth straight contest on the road and fell to 2-9 in its last 11. Will Bynum scored all of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, Brandon Jennings also scored 17 and Josh Smith added 13 for the Pistons.

Love scored 14 and Martin had 11 in the first quarter as the Timberwolves raced to a 33-13 lead after 10 minutes and settled for an 18-point edge going into the second. Minnesota extended its lead to as high as 24 in the second before settling for a 66-45 edge at intermission, holding Detroit to 41 percent shooting.

Two straight baskets by Pekovic, followed by a Love free throw pushed the lead to 82-51 with a little over seven minutes left in the third and the Timberwolves took a 28-point edge into the final 12 minutes. Bynum helped the Pistons close within 11 with under three minutes left, but it was too late for a serious challenge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota has beaten the Pistons eight straight times, winning by an average of 20 points in two victories this season. … Love notched his league-leading 51st double-double for the Timberwolves and Detroit C Andre Drummond, who is second with 44, was held to six points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes. … Minnesota improved to 14-8 against Eastern Conference opponents.
Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Minnesota
Greg Monroe 20 Scoring Kevin Love 28
Brandon Jennings 5 Assists Ricky Rubio 10
Greg Monroe 15 Rebounds Kevin Love 14
Josh Smith 5 Free Throws Made Nikola Pekovic 7
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 3 Steals Ricky Rubio 3
Andre Drummond 2 Blocks Gorgui Dieng 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Detroit 101 40.4 4-13 21-30 17 55 4 6 13
Minnesota 114 45.1 6-20 26-33 25 50 3 7 11
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Detroit will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Pistons have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.