MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Love had 31 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, spoiling Steve Nash’s return for languishing Los Angeles and leading the Timberwolves to a 109-99 victory Tuesday that stuck the Lakers with their seventh straight defeat. ADVERTISING MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Love had 31 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, spoiling Steve Nash’s return for languishing Los Angeles and leading the Timberwolves to a 109-99 victory Tuesday that stuck the Lakers with their seventh straight defeat.
Kevin Martin scored 14 of his season-high-tying 32 points in the opening 10 minutes to help the Timberwolves start strong, and the NBA’s highest-scoring first-quarter team surged to a 25-point lead midway through the second period.
Nash had been sidelined since Nov. 10 because of nerve problems in his back. The soon-to-be-40-year-old two-time league MVP had seven points and nine assists in 25 minutes, about 10 more than he was supposed to play.
Steve Blake also returned, coming back from a torn ligament in his right elbow that had shelved him since Dec. 10. He ruptured his eardrum during the game but kept playing on another night of bad luck and bad defense for the fallen franchise. Blake was scoreless in 31 minutes.
Jodie Meeks (sprained right ankle, first quarter) and backup Jordan Hill (headache and neck strain, first quarter) went down for the Lakers. Pau Gasol sat out with a strained right groin and could be out until after the All-Star break.
Bulls 101, Suns 92
PHOENIX — Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Bulls snapped the Suns’ five-game winning streak.
The Bulls shot 45 percent from the field and had five players score in double figures, bouncing back from an ugly 99-70 loss at Sacramento on Monday. The Bulls shot 28 percent and were outrebounded 53-30 against the Kings.
Goran Dragic led Phoenix with 24 points. Channing Frye had 18.
Pacers 89, Hawks 85
ATLANTA — David West scored 22 points and Paul George added 18, helping NBA-leading Indiana get the win.
The Pacers snapped a 12-game regular-season losing streak in Atlanta while improving the league’s best record to 38-10.
Atlanta failed to place a starter in double figures. It had won two straight and five of seven.
Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap went 2 for 11 from the field and finished with seven points.
Bobcats 91, Warriors 75
OAKLAND, Calif. — Al Jefferson had 30 points and 13 rebounds, Gerald Henderson added 17 points and eight rebounds and Charlotte blew past Golden State in Kemba Walker’s much-anticipated return.
Walker finished with seven points, seven assists and six rebounds after missing the last seven games with a sprained left ankle. He played 33 minutes.
Stephen Curry had 17 points and 11 assists against his hometown team, Klay Thompson scored 12 and Andrew Bogut grabbed 15 rebounds for the Warriors.
