Sacramento, CA (My Sportsbook) - Kevin Martin scored 26 points and tallied six assists, and the
Sacramento Kings routed the
Minnesota Timberwolves 121-109.
John Salmons scored 23 points for the Kings, who won their second straight at home after dropping four road contests to open the season. Beno Udrih scored 15 points, and Spencer Hawes had 13 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento.
"I thought it was a real solid team win. The guys came out focused; they came out again with a purpose," Kings head coach Reggie Theus said. "It was our low for turnovers this year (10). We had none in the third quarter and only three in the fourth quarter -- that's how you finish games."
Rookie forward Kevin Love had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped four straight after a season-opening win over the Kings at home. Mike Miller scored 16 points and grabbed six boards, and Sebastian Telfair had 15 points and seven assists.
Al Jefferson scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Minnesota.
"Until we're committed defensively, we don't have a chance," T-Wolves head coach Randy Wittman said. "We are not committed individually; we are not committed as a team. We won't win games that way, especially not on the road. We get after it once we dig ourselves a hole. Some of what we did was embarrassing."
The Kings pulled away in the third quarter. A Telfair three-pointer cut the Sacramento lead to 64-62 with 9:53 remaining, but a 15-5 Kings run, powered by seven points from Martin, pushed the lead to 79-67.
Sacramento led 92-79 entering the fourth quarter, then put the game away with a 9-0 push to start the frame. A Martin three gave the Kings a 101-79 lead with 10:17 left, and the T-Wolves never threatened down the stretch.
Love poured in 10 points in the first quarter, but the Kings led 36-27 entering the second. The T-Wolves pulled to within 36-32 on a Randy Foye three-pointer in the first minute of the second quarter, but Sacramento responded by pushing its lead back to 10 points.
The Kings led 62-55 at halftime.
Game Notes
Sacramento made 22-of-23 free throws...Love made 6-of-7 field goals, and 8- of-10 at the charity stripe...Starting forward Corey Brewer had zero points on 0-of-5 shooting in 19 minutes for Minnesota.
