The Minnesota Timberwolves got their 2013-14 season off to a good start, beating last year’s worst in the East Orlando Magic 120-115 in overtime.
Kevin Love led the way for Minnesota, making a triumphant return to Target Center after missing 64 games last year, posting 31 points and 17 rebounds. Likely the first of many double-doubles we’ll see from Love, he led the NBA with 48 in his last healthy season of 2011-12. He drained a three with 10 seconds left in the game to tie it for the Wolves at 103, giving the Wolves the chance to win it in overtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6GRa2ISmX8
They did exactly that, as seven different Wolves reached double figures.
A big question coming into tonight’s opener was who would start at small forward alongside Love, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, and offseason acquisition Kevin Martin. Head coach Rick Adelman chose free agent signee Corey Brewer over third-year man Derrick Williams, and Brewer did not disappoint, delivering 16 points on 7-11 from the field. Williams did not play.
Playing in his first game under his new and improved contract, center Nikola Pekovic had an off night, getting outplayed by Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic who put up 22 points and 16 rebounds. Pekovic managed 11 points while starting the game missing six of his nine shots.
Orlando was led by Aaron Afflalo, who put up 28.
Minnesota returns to action Friday when Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City come to town, a 7 p.m. tipoff.
