Pelicans at Timberwolves final score: Minnesota wins 88-77

Kevin Love had another huge game, exploding for 30 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to an 88-77 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota Wednesday night.

The Timberwolves were playing without starting center Nikola Pekovic, who is out 7-10 days with bursitis in his right ankle and the Pelicans were without their best player, big man Anthony Davis, who missed the game because of a finger injury.

The Timberwolves locked the Pelicans down in the first half, holding them to 35 points at the break. The Timberwolves took a 12-point lead into the third quarter, but the Pelicans rallied and cut the lead to five heading into the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves scored the first eight points of the final quarter and never looked back.

Kevin Martin had 18 points and six rebounds, Dante Cunningham had 12 points and six rebounds and J.J. Barea added 10 points and six assists for the Timberwolves.

Al-Farouq Aminu led the Pelicans with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Eric Gordon had 14 points and Greg Stiemsma added three points and 12 rebounds.

The Timberwolves are now 23-22 and the Pelicans are 19-26.