Love helps Timberwolves outlast Suns 127-124

[March 13, 2012]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Kevin Love scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the Phoenix Suns 127-124 on Monday night.

Nikola Pekovic scored 24 points and Derrick Williams added 19 to help the Timberwolves snap a nine-game losing streak in Phoenix.

Jared Dudley scored a season-high 28 points, Steve Nash had 25 and Channing Frye added 18 for the Suns, who snapped a three-game winning streak.

Jared Dudley scored a season-high 28 points, Steve Nash had 25 and Channing Frye added 18 for the Suns, who snapped a three-game winning streak and lost for only the second time in eight games since the All-Star break.

Sebastian Telfair scored six points in seven seconds -- converting a four-point play and stealing the ensuing inbounds pass and scoring a layup -- to give the Suns a 111-107 lead with 6:38 left.

The Timberwolves regained the lead 112-111 on a steal and a breakaway dunk by Williams and a Wayne Ellington added a 3-pointer.

The teams traded the lead until Luke Ridnour put Minnesota ahead for good, 121-120, with 1:50 to go and the Timberwolves made six straight free throws in the final 37.8 seconds to close out the game.

Phoenix had an opportunity to tie the score in the final seconds but Dudley missed a 3-pointer and Marcin Gortat, who was fouled going for the rebound, missed both free-throw attempts.

Minnesota set season highs for points scored and second-quarter points with 35 while also allowing a season-worst point total. The Suns also set season marks for points scored and allowed and second-half points scored.

Love had been relatively quiet over the three quarters, hitting only 3-pointer and scoring 14 points through the game's first 34 minutes.

But he hit a 3-pointer to key a 7-0 Minnesota run late in the third then hit consecutive 3-pointers in the first minute of the fourth as the Timberwolves took a 98-92 lead.

Love finished 11 of 23 from the floor, including 5-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.

Pekovic scored most of his points in the game's opening quarter, totaling 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with four rebounds and a block shot in the first 12 minutes.

NOTES: The Timberwolves got 52 points from their reserves, with Michael Beasley and Wayne Ellington scoring 15 apiece. . Gortat was in foul trouble from the get-go while defending Pekovic, picking up two-first quarter fouls and his third just over two minutes after he checked into the game in the second. Gortat finished with eight points and four rebounds in just more than 19 minutes. . Nash and Dudley combined to outscore Minnesota's starting backcourt of Ridnour and Martell Webster 53-12. . Minnesota shot 56 percent from the floor, Phoenix 52 percent. . Telfair finished with 10 points in just under 16 minutes.

[Associated Press]

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