Playing team defense and getting scoring up and down the lineup, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat up Oklahoma City 100-81 at Target Center.
Kevin Love, who scored 31 points on Wednesday, had 24 points and 12 rebounds against the Thunder. Point guard Ricky Rubio (14 points, 10 assists) also had a double-double, as did center Nikola Pekovic (15 points, 10 rebounds).
The Wolves built a 20-point halftime lead and then used an 11-3 run to end the third quarter to push the lead to 28 entering the fourth quarter.
Minnesota's defense was more impressive as Corey Brewer led a team effort against Kevin Durant, who was held to 13 points.
It was the fewest points he has scored in a regular-season game since December 31, 2011, against Phoenix.
He was four of 11 with four turnovers before sitting out the fourth quarter.
Clippers 110, Kings 101
Chris Paul had 24 points and 10 assists, and Blake Griffin added 18 points and 16 assists, as the Los Angeles Clippers held off a furious rally for a 110-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The Clippers, playing for the second straight night and third time in four nights, were able to win their second consecutive despite blowing a 15-point third-quarter lead.
Paul's 27-footer for a three-pointer vaulted Los Angeles ahead to stay after the Kings erased a 66-51 deficit and inched in front 92-90 with 6:43 to go in the final quarter. He then hit two free throws on his next possession.
Jamal Crawford finished with 18 points for the Clippers and made three three-pointers, moving past Tim Hardaway into 15th place on the NBA's all-time list.
Isaiah Thomas single-handedly kept the Kings (1-1) in the game, scoring 29 points on nine-for-13 shooting and making all three of his three-pointers.
DeMarcus Cousins finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, his second double-double in as many contests.
Suns 87, Jazz 84
Eric Bledsoe landed 17 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and drilled the winning three-pointer from 25 feet with 0.7 of a second left as the Phoenix Suns shook off the loss of Goran Dragic and scored a 87-84 win over the Utah Jazz.
Miles Plumlee posted his second consecutive double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The Suns improved to 2-0 for the 11th time in team history but the first time since the 2009-10 season. All previous 10 Phoenix teams that started the season 2-0 made the playoffs.
The Suns lost Dragic to a right facial contusion when he collided with Tucker late in the first half. He tried to play in the third quarter but lasted just three minutes as facial swelling continued.
Enes Kanter had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Gordon Hayward added 18 points, but Bledsoe, who was none of six from the field and none of three from three-point range after three quarters, drilled the winner.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
