SACRAMENTO (AP) — Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points, Zach LaVine added 19 points and eight rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves got a big game from their reserves in a 101-91 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Shabazz Muhammad had 15 points and Andre Miller added 12 points and four assists to help the Timberwolves to their third straight win and first over the Kings since March 16, 2014. Minnesota, one of the worst home teams in the NBA this season, also improved to 6-2 on the road.
LaVine scored 14 points in the second half of his return to the lineup, helping Minnesota pull away. LaVine was starting in place of Ricky Rubio, who was sidelined by a left ankle injury.
Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 16 assists for Sacramento (6-11).
The Kings had won four straight against the Timberwolves, but they fell behind early in the second quarter and couldn’t recover.
Coming off wins over Atlanta and Philadelphia, Minnesota held a slim 86-80 edge with 6 minutes left. Wiggins made two free throws and a 3-pointer, LaVine scored four points and Gorgui Dieng added two free throws to help the Timberwolves pull away.
Miller scored eight points as part of a 19-3 run by Minnesota in the second quarter. The 39-year-old reserve guard has been used sparingly this season and did not play in four of the previous five games before giving the Timberwolves a spark while Rubio rested.
Miller later scored to cap an 8-0 run in the third quarter that put Minnesota up 75-66.
TIP-INS
Timberwolves: Minnesota did not score any fast-break points and committed 18 turnovers. ... Kevin Garnett, coming off his best game of the season when he came two points shy of a double-double against the 76ers, was held to two points in 17 minutes. ... Rubio got hurt Wednesday against Philadelphia. ... F Nemanja Bjelica sat out his fourth straight game with a bruised left knee.
Kings: Rudy Gay had his worst game of the season, scoring a season-low two points on 1-of-13 shooting. It was Gay’s fewest points since he was shut out by Golden State on Jan. 23 last season. ... Rondo had 11 assists in the first half. ... C DeMarcus Cousins missed his second straight game due to a lower back strain. The Kings are 1-6 this season without Cousins. ... Caron Butler also did not play because of a left ankle sprain