Nikola Pekovic stars as Minnesota Timberwolves sneak past New Jersey Nets 108 – 105: NBA Recap
Prudential Centre, Newark was the centre stage for a game which turned out to be an absolute thriller. In a high scoring affair, the Minnesota Timberwolves handed a 108-105 defeat to the New Jersey Nets.
Timberwolves, who had almost never won any game away from home last season, now seem to be redefining history as they have won the 6th away from home.
Anthony Morrow was terrific for Nets as he recorded his career high 42 points, including NBA season’s highest 8 of 11 3pointers. Forward Kris Humphries displayed an aggressive game and barely missed his double-double with 16 points
and 9 rebounds; Jordan Farmar was also on song, scoring 14 and 7 assists while Deron Williams contributed with a double-double of 14 assists and 12 points.
Ironically this all couldn’t help Nets avoid the inevitable, as they confronted their 16th loss in this shortened season.
Ensuring the Wolves third straight victory on the road, Nikola Pekovic erupted off the bench with a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Love starred for the Wolves with 10 rebounds and 20 points while Michael Beasley and
Wesley Johnson added 10 points each. Rookie of the month Ricky Rubio had yet another monumental game, which he finished with figures of 10 points, 10 assists and 6 steals.
An absorbing first half came to an end with neither team fully in control of the game and the scores 23-19 with Wolves in the lead. Timberwolves hurled a 9-0 run in the opening moments of 2nd quarter, but that was neutralized
by the Nets shortly afterwards as they clawed off the lead and put themselves ahead of the visitors before going into the halftime.
With the Nets leading by 50-49, the third quarter saw the Wolves race away to a 14-2 run midway through the frame and although the Nets fought back, they were still ahead by 80-75 going into the decisive frame.
The Nets carried their momentum into the last 12 minutes, starting it with an 11-4 run to reclaim the lead. Rubio and Pekovic combined for five points in the ensuing passage to spur on the Wolves, but the game again turned and
the Nets took a 97-95 lead with 2:14 left on the clock..
That was where the Wolves sprinted to a decisive 7-0 run and the Nets, despite being within striking range throughout, just couldn’t usurp the lead.
Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio put the game to perspective afterwards.
"We were up and down. The last minutes we were up, which were the most important minutes."
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