Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Love poured in a game-high 31 points
to go with eight rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 95-86 win
over the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Love went a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line, setting a new career
high for free throws made without a miss.
Ronny Turiaf and Chase Budinger added 14 and 12 points, respectively, off the
bench for the Timberwolves, winners in four of their last five games.
"What we can take from this is knowing we can win on the road," Love said.
The Wolves are 10-14 on the road this season.
Minnesota center Nikola Pekovic played just six minutes after inuring his
Achilles in the first quarter.
Carlos Boozer had 20 points, 14 rebounds and five assists and D.J. Augustin
added 19 points and six helpers for the Bulls, losers in two of their last
three.
"It was a tough game. They came out, pushed the ball and scored on us. They
we're getting easy baskets and it kind of killed us," Augustin said.
Chicago center Joakim Noah did not play because of an illness. He is day-to-
day.
Corey Brewer gave the Wolves their largest lead of the game, 77-65, with his
3-pointer at the 9:29 mark of the fourth quarter. Minnesota's lead never
dipped below eight until a deep Augustin triple with 1:29 remaining cut it to
84-79.
Love, though, blew by Boozer for a layup and Brewer slammed one home off a
Rubio outlet pass for a nine-point lead.
Mike Dunleavy pulled the Bulls within two possessions with a 3-pointer at the
other end, but the Wolves were 7-for-8 from the free throw line down the
stretch, including four straight from Love.
Minnesota led 23-20 after 12 minutes and carried a 54-46 lead into the break.
The Bulls pulled within five several times in the third period, but the Wolves
led 72-65 entering the final frame.
Game Notes
Brewer had 11 points ... The Wolves were 22-for-26 from the line ... Minnesota
outscored the Bulls 46-36 in the paint ... Chicago's Jimmy Butler had 16
points, while teammate Taj Gibson scored 10 points and pulled down 10 boards
... The Bulls were 32-for-85 from the field.