The Wolves have had a tough enough time contending for a Western Conference playoff spot this season with Kevin Love, let alone without him.
Halfway through the fourth-quarter of Minnesota’s clash with the Lakers, a hard fall made it appear the Wolves may be faced with the latter for an extended period of time.
Thankfully for Wolves fans, after slamming his tailbone and head against the floor violently, Love stayed in the game and made two free throws, part of what sealed a 109-99 win for Minnesota.
It was a rough and tumble night all around, as Jodie Meeks had to exit for Los Angeles with a sprained ankle, and Wolves rookie center Gorgui Dieng left the game with a facial laceration from which he would not return.
Despite all the injuries and close calls, the Wolves managed to bear down and hold off the Lakers, who had the services of guards Steve Nash and Steve Blake for the first time in 2014.
Blake hadn’t played since Dec. 10, and had little to no impact on the game, playing 32 minutes and missed his only two shots from the field.
Nash played in just six games at the beginning of the year before missing the ensuing three months with a back injury, and scored seven points in 25 minutes.
As for the Wolves, despite Love’s near-disaster fall, he racked up 31 points and 17 rebounds, passing former Wolf Kevin Garnett for most 30-point, 15-rebound games in franchise history.
Kevin Martin led the Wolves with 32 points, and Minnesota pounded the Lakers inside despite the absence of injured center Nikola Pekoivc, outrebounding L.A. 53-38.
The Wolves improve to .500 once again, and look to eclipse even when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder tomorrow.
