Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - No Kevin Love, no Ricky Rubio, no problem
for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
J.J. Barea poured in a game-high 21 points and handed out five assists as the
T'Wolves knocked off the Sacramento Kings, 92-80, in their season opener at
Target Center.
Brandon Roy, who missed the entire 2011-12 season after he announced his
retirement in March of 2011, returned to the hardwood and scored 10 points to
go with six assists and five rebounds, while Andrei Kirilenko added 10 points,
five assists and seven rebounds in the T'Wolves' first home-opening win since
2009-10.
Love, the T'Wolves All-Star center, will be out likely until the holidays
after he broke his hand in the offseason, while Rubio suffered a torn ACL last
March.
Isaiah Thomas scored 20 points, while Marcus Thornton contributed 15 points
on 6-of-13 shooting for the Kings, who fell to Chicago in their season-opener
on Wednesday.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network