Mavs Fall To T-Wolves

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MINNEAPOLIS — Forward Kevin Martin scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half and forward Kevin Love provided the knockout punch as the Minnesota Timberwolves ended a two-game winning streak with a 116-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday ngiht at Target Center.

In a game that was close much of the night, Martin had 12 fourth-quarter points for the Wolves (4-2) clung to the lead until the closing moments.

Then, coming out of a timeout with the Wolves up 105-102, Love hit a step-back 3-pointer with 2:12 left in the game. After Monta Ellis missed at the other end, Love hit a fallaway jumper to push the lead to 110-102 with 1:13 left. Moments later, out of a timeout, Martin scored to push the Wolves’ lead to 10.

The Mavericks (3-3) never challenged again, losing their second straight game.

Love, who had a double-double by halftime, had 32 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, coming two assists short of his first career triple-double. Corey Brewer scored 17 points and center Nikola Pekovic had 15 for the Wolves, who finished the game on an 11-3 run.

Dallas was led by Ellis’ 23 points. Jose Calderon had 21 and Dirk

Nowitzki added 14.

The Wolves improved to 3-1 at home and Dallas remained winless on the road at 0-3.

The Wolves came out moving the ball. And with Love picking up six first-quarter assists and Brewer running himself into fast breaks, the Wolves took an early 10-point lead against the Mavs, who opened the game shooting 2 of 10 from the field.

But the Mavericks pulled to within four entering the second quarter and then took over the momentum against a Wolves bench that struggled again. The score was tied 32-32 when the Mavericks went on a 10-5 run to take a lead they held for the rest of the half. The two teams went back and forth until Brewer’s dunk at the halftime buzzer pulled Minnesota within 56-55.

It appeared the Wolves were ready to take over the game when Martin – who had 11 third-quarter points – scored nine points in a 16-4 run that gave the Wolves a 77-66 lead. But the Mavericks came right back, with Calderon hitting two 3-pointers in a 13-2 run. J.J. Barea buried a 3-pointer and Brewer scored before Dejuan Blair’s putback cut the Wolves lead to 85-81 entering the fourth quarter.

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