Paul Pierce scored 22 points for the Brooklyn Nets as they moved to the brink of a playoff spot by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-99 on Sunday, the Associated Press reports.
Joe Johnson added 19 points for the Nets, who would clinch a playoff spot if the New York Knicks lost to Golden State later Sunday. Andray Blatche had 14 points and three players finished with 13.
Corey Brewer and Kevin Martin each scored 21 for the Timberwolves, who had won two in row and were coming off the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, when they scored a franchise-record 143 points in a rout of the Lakers on Friday. But in this game they scored only 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Love finished with just 14 points and nine rebounds for the Wolves, shooting 5-of-14.
