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 Six games out of the Western Conference's eighth and final
playoff spot when the evening started, the Wolves began a daunting
start to their season's final two months by running past a
notoriously physical opponent.
They did so even though they opened the game without starting center
Nikola Pekovic (ankle bursitis) and ended it without his
replacement, center Ronny Turiaf (knee).
They persevered on a night when three-time All-Star forward Kevin
Love won a scorer's duel with Pacers two-time All-Star forward Paul
George, 42-35.
Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio also delivered a career-high 17
assists.
"This was one of my favorite wins of the season," Love said.
Rubio's assist total also tied a franchise record, shared now with
five other players dating back to the days of Pooh Richardson,
Stephon Marbury, Micheal Williams and Chauncey Billups.
The victory moved the Wolves a half game closer to that final
playoff spot. They are now 5 1/2 games behind eighth-place Dallas as
they head out for a five-game Western trip that begins Saturday at
Utah.
 "We've got to win every game just about," Wolves small forward Corey
Brewer said. "We're 1-0 and now we've got to keep it going, one game
at a time. You win another one, you keep winning, you never know
what can happen."
The Wolves started fresh off a five-day all-star break by running
off to leads of 13-5, 30-16 and 40-20 by midway through the second
quarter against a Pacers team that returned from their break by
beating Atlanta at home the night before.
"Tough night for our guys," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "The
Timberwolves, they came out after break on a mission. They played a
great basketball game."
Love and George each scored 18 points alone in a third quarter when
the Pacers started themselves back from a 78-64 deficit with a 13-4
run.
"They're two great players," Pacers coach Rick Adelman said. "Kevin,
22 shots, he gets 42 points. That's pretty good."
Adelman didn't mention Love's 16 rebounds as well, or that he had a
19-point, 11-rebound double-double by halftime.
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"Great all-star battle, great one-on-one battle," Brewer said.
"Kevin Love wins."
Love and the Wolves won because they pushed the ball on the Pacers,
winning the battle in fast-break points 18-8 on a night when Brewer
scored most of his 12 points streaking behind the Indiana defenses
for layups.
"We just found ourselves three or four steps behind him," Pacers
forward David West said. "The team just didn't have a whole lot of
pop tonight. I thought we were going to come out and play a little
better than we did."
The Wolves also won because their second unit that has given up more
than a couple fourth-quarter leads this season held on this team,
pushing back after the Pacers got within those five points early in
the fourth quarter.
The Wolves' bench players scored 12 of the next 14 points after the
Pacers pulled closed, pushing their lead back to 94-79 with 6:23
remaining. Backup point guard J.J. Barea — the subject of trade
rumors leading to Thursday's trade deadline — scored 12 points off
the bench, including the 17-foot jump shot that gave the Wolves that
15-point lead and fueled their playoff hopes.
"One game at a time," Barea said. "If we play with this much energy,
if we come out like this every night, we're going to have a chance."
NOTES: Coach Rick Adelman said he hopes Wolves C Nikola Pekovic
(ankle) will return soon, perhaps for practices Thursday and Friday
before Saturday's game at Utah. ... Wolves G Kevin Martin missed his
fourth consecutive because of a fractured bone in his thumb. He is
scheduled to get his thumb re-examined Friday and is hopeful of
playing on the upcoming road trip. ... Pacers coach Frank Vogel on
Pekovic's absence: "I was looking at my notes the first time we
played these guys (in November) and I think I wrote down,
'Smashmouth styles collide.' Obviously, Kevin Love still brings that
element, but it's obviously just not the same with Pek not out
there." ... Thursday is NBA trade deadline and the Wolves are trying
to improve a team that was six games out of a playoff spot before
Wednesday. Yahoo! Sports reported Monday that the team has discussed
sending PG J.J. Barea and SF Chase Budinger to Memphis for
defensive-minded G Tony Allen and F Tayshaun Prince, but as of
Wednesday afternoon those discussions had gone no further, according
to a league source.
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