MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Timberwolves sent Kevin Love off to NBA All-Star weekend with a complete performance and a critical win.
Hunter Henry Chargers Jersey . The Denver Nuggets played as though they were already relaxing on a tropical beach. Love started practicing early for All-Star festivities, making six of 11 shots from 3-point range and totalling 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 117-90 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday night. "Its always a tough game before the break to come out with a lot of energy, and we did," Love said. "We were excited to play. We knew we needed a win." Love, chosen as a first-time starter for the Western Conference team, will also take part in the 3-point shooting contest this weekend in New Orleans. In five February games, Love has averaged 32.6 points. He sat last week because of a stiff neck, and then with a bruised left quadriceps, but his banged-up body hasnt hindered his production when he is on the court. "I was pretty sore before the game still, but once we got going I felt good," Love said. "I was definitely happy we got the large lead, and I really, really needed to sit down those last eight minutes." Corey Brewer added 22 points, J.J. Barea pitched in 18 points on 8-for-8 shooting, and Ricky Rubio had 11 points, 12 assists and a season-high seven steals for the Wolves, who had coach Rick Adelman back on the sideline. He missed the previous game on Monday, an absence he said was related to his wifes health. The Wolves, still missing Nikola Pekovic (right ankle bursitis) and Kevin Martin (broken left thumb) stopped a four-game losing streak. "We needed a game like that after having a tough stretch," Rubio said. The curmudgeon coach wasnt quite satisfied, calling timeout at one point in the second quarter when a turnover gave the Nuggets a fast-break dunk off a lob pass from Randy Foye to Jordan Hamilton. That cut the lead to 47-29. "I dont know, 40 would be nice to be ahead by," Adelman said. "Id relax then. We have a tendency to give up points quickly." The Wolves trail eighth-place Phoenix by six games. Hamilton led the Nuggets with 16 points and seven assists, and J.J. Hickson added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Reeling from injuries, the Nuggets (24-27) have dropped nine of 13 and four games in a row to fall behind the Wolves (25-28) and into 11th place. "Theres really only one thing to say, and thats thank God for the All-Star break," coach Brian Shaw said. Foye, forced into a point guard role because Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson are out, said he has been playing with a strained hamstring. He then sustained a nerve injury in his leg. "It was extremely painful, but I fought through it," said Foye, who inadvertently elbowed Rubio in the chin in the first quarter. Rubio returned after receiving five stitches. The Nuggets, who have given up the third-most points per game, left shooters open all over the court. The Wolves made them pay with 52.3 per cent shooting from the floor and 20 fast-break points. "Were getting torched by everybody from the beginning of the game to the end of the game," Shaw said. The Wolves were ahead 19-3 before the Nuggets were even warmed up, and they built their lead as big as 61-37 late in the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Chase Budinger, who finished with 12 points. The Nuggets never came closer than 17 points after halftime. Brewer had an uncontested dunk and then caught another laser-like outlet pass from Love like a wide receiver streaking down the football field. Brewers twisting layup rolled off the rim, but Rubio stole the ball right back for another try that Brewer converted for a 98-64 lead. "It all starts with defence," Hickson said. "If you look at the top teams in the league, all of them are top five or top 10 in defence, and thats not us right now." NOTES: Adelman has no special plans for the All-Star break. "Im just going to sit here and watch the snow," he said. Pekovic will be ice fishing again, but Adelman expressed no interest, only a bit of advice: "I hope he puts his foot in the water and ices it a little bit." ... Hickson has a double-double in 16 of the last 29 games. ... Martin said his hope is to be cleared to play on the five-game trip that starts Feb. 22. He will be re-evaluated the day before.
D.J. Fluker Chargers Jersey . - Justin Turner is at his best with runners in scoring position, and he delivered again in a big spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kyle Emanuel Chargers Jersey . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday.The Montreal Canadiens Carey Price is certainly in the running for the Vezina Trophy, and hes making a case for the Hart Trophy, too. Price has looked every bit like an MVP against the Arizona Coyotes over the years. Coming off back-to-back shutouts, Price tries to improve to 7-0 in the series as the surging Canadiens host the Coyotes on Sunday. Price has stopped a combined 60 shots in consecutive 1-0 wins over the Rangers on Thursday and Washington on Saturday. He tied Hall of Famer Patrick Roy for fifth on the teams all-time shutout list with 29 after Max Pacioretty scored 3:08 into overtime against the Capitals. Price has compiled a 1.43 goals-against average in winning five straight and 13 of his last 16 starts. Hes surrendered two goals or fewer in all but one of those appearances, Hes amazing. Hes so humble. He just comes to the rink and does his job. A guy like that doesnt have to open his mouth once to be the best leader on this team, Pacioretty, who also provided all the offense against New York, told the teams official website. The way he shows up, the way he handles himself, the way he carries himself, hes the backbone of this team. You get goose bumps when youre stepping out of the tunnel because you want to step up for him. With 67 points, the Canadiens (32-13-3) are one in back of Tampa Bay for the Atlantic Division lead with three games in hand. They are an NHL-best 15-3-1 since Dec. 9. Montreal has won five in a row, with the last four all coming by one goal. Were all making contributions. Its a team sport. Guys are doing their part, Price said. Im relying on the guyss around me and theyre relying on me.
Matt Slauson Chargers Jersey. Right now, weve got a perfect harmony going. Prices success shouldnt come as much of a surprise to the Coyotes (17-26-6), who havent been able to get much past the star goaltender. Price has won each of his six starts against Arizona behind a 1.65 GAA, surrendering one or two goals in each. Montreal had won nine straight in the series before dropping the last meeting, 5-2 at Arizona on March 6. Mike Smith made 24 saves for the Coyotes, improving to 3-1-3 with a 2.20 GAA against the Canadiens. While Price ranks among the leaders at his position in several key categories, Smith is having a season hed rather forget. Smiths 21 losses are the most in the NHL, and he owns a league-worst 3.49 GAA. Smith stopped just 15 of 20 shots before getting pulled in favor of rookie Louis Domingue during Saturdays 7-2 loss at Ottawa. Where we are with some key veterans out and playing some young players, the bottom line is your goaltender has to be good for you and ours wasnt good, coach Dave Tippett said. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek scored his second goal of the season for Arizona, which dropped to 1-6-2 in its last nine. Its not how we want to be. We want to be a hard team to play against, Michalek said. I just was embarrassed and I think everybody should feel the same way. Theres no excuses. The Coyotes franchise has been outscored 100-43 in going 1-19-1 with two ties in its last 23 visits to Montreal. Pacioretty leads the Canadiens with 23 goals and 40 points, 28 of which have come in 24 home games. Montreal is 17-5-2 on its own ice.
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