The Associated Press
Jon Krawczynski
MINNEAPOLIS–The Minnesota Timberwolves had a hard time finding the gas pedal against the rugged Orlando Magic.
That they still were able to grind out a win, despite not playing particularly well, makes them feel like they’re starting to see some progress as they pull themselves out of a 6-18 start.
Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points, and Ricky Rubio made a career-high six three-pointers, to lead the Timberwolves to a 111-105 victory in overtime last night.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Rubio added 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, and Wiggins forced overtime with a jumper with 10 seconds left to help the ‘Wolves win for the eighth time in 11 games.
“This game we’ll say we didn’t have it 100 percent but we still kept winning,” noted Rubio, whose Wolves now are 19-29 and just three games out of a playoff spot in the muddled Western Conference.
“That’s what’s going to make us be able to make a run at the end to try to make the playoffs,” he noted.
Elfrid Payton scored 21 points while Serge Ibaka had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who came back from nine points down with five minutes to play to take the lead late in regulation.
Evan Fournier scored nine points in 23 minutes in his first game since Jan. 13.
“It’s very frustrating,” Payton said a night after the Magic’s big win in Toronto.
“It’s a tough one to take in.”
Rubio came into the game shooting a ghastly 24 percent from deep. But he went 6-for-9 last night, including three in a row in the third quarter to get the sparse crowd on its feet.
“The guy’s a low-percentage three-point shooter. That doesn’t mean you just stand there and watch him shoot,” said Magic coach Frank Vogel.
“You’ve got to guard him.”
Towns and Wiggins started the overtime with dunks, and Wiggins also blocked a shot by Payton at the rim to help the ‘Wolves hold on.
Elsewhere in the NBA, Philadelphia topped Sacramento 122-119, Miami beat Brooklyn 104-96, Boston downed Detroit 113-109, Dallas upended Cleveland 104-97, and Memphis dumped Phoenix 115-96.
