Associated Press
MONTREAL — Kevin Love had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-89 preseason win against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The game was held in Montreal as part of the 2013 NBA Canada series.
Kevin Martin scored 21 points for the Timberwolves (3-2). Ricky Rubio had 15 points and a game-high seven assists.
“We’re getting more acclimated with each other each day that goes by,” said Martin, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Oklahoma City. “I’m very hopeful for the season. We have a good team here. We have high expectations for ourselves as a team. We expect to win games.”
Gerald Wallace had 16 points for Boston (1-6). Toronto native Kelly Olynyk scored four points in 19 minutes.
“It’s fun. It’s an honor to play in front of your country,” Olnyk said. “It’s a special feeling.”
Minnesota put together a 12-0 run to grab an 18-7 lead on Martin’s 3-pointer with 6:24 left in the first quarter. The Timberwolves led 57-51 at halftime and carried an 81-72 lead into the final period.
Martin was 5 for 8 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and three assists.
“It’s a really tough guard when you have a guy like Kevin Martin who’s so fast and can get open, runs the break, can shoot the ball from distance,” Love said. “He only needs a split-second.”
Thunder 88, Jazz 82
OKLAHOMA CITY — Reggie Jackson had 18 points and six assists to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 88-82.
Serge Ibaka added 17 points and Thabo Sefolosha scored 14 for the Thunder, who led 23-14 after the first quarter. Kevin Durant scored five points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Oklahoma City (4-1) once again played without center Kendrick Perkins, who is making his way back from a dislocated ring finger.
Gordon Hayward paced the Jazz (1-4) with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Magic 87, Pistons 86
ORLANDO, Fla. — E’Twaun Moore had 14 points in 30 minutes, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 87-86.
Orlando led by as many as 23, but Detroit kept its starting unit in late in the preseason game and closed the gap.
Tobias Harris, who sat out the Magic’s previous two games, scored 13 points and connected on all three of his 3-point attempts. But he left late in the third quarter with soreness in his left ankle and did not return.
Greg Monroe led Detroit with 19 points. Andre Drummond had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
