T-Wolves at Bucks final score: Kevin Love leads Minnesota to 117-95 win over Milwaukee

Dec 28, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) drives the ball to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilasova (right) defends during the first quarter at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

Breaking news: Kevin Love is very good at basketball.

The T-Wolves power forward scored 33 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists in leading Minnesota to a 117-95 road win over Milwaukee on Saturday night, and frankly, I’m not sure the traditional numbers did the performance justice. Love shot an uber-efficient 11 for 17 from the field, 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, and 7 for 9 from the free throw line, he posted a game-high +33 on/off rating, and committed only 2 turnovers despite an unreal amount of usage. In short, it was a tour de force from one of the game’s best, and it was the story of the night.

Elsewhere, Minnesota shot more than 45% from beyond the arc in the game, and with a decisive rebounding edge in their back pockets, that was an easy factor in the 20+ point road win. Kevin Martin (20 points) and Nikola Pekovic (19 points, 11 rebounds) also had big nights for the Wolves, and with Love’s outburst, Milwaukee was in deep trouble.

On the bright side for the Bucks, young forward Khris Middleton did have 23 points and 9 rebounds while OJ Mayo added 19 off the bench, but the trailed in every major statistical category, and it was a bloodbath. Losing a game to a better team is never a crime in the NBA, but dropping one by 22 points at home is also unacceptable.

The Wolves are now 15-15 after the win, and with January’s schedule opening way up, they could be back in the middle of the playoff race in no time.

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