Timberwolves fall to Nuggets

MINNEAPOLIS - Forward Kenneth Faried had 18 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 100-85 NBA win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at the Target Center.
The victory improved the Nuggets to 2-0 under interim coach Melvin Hunt, who took over after Brian Shaw was fired on Tuesday.
For the Timberwolves, it was their fourth consecutive loss.
Minnesota (13-47) led by one after the first quarter, paced by an 8-0 run that gave the Timberwolves their largest lead of the night at 19-12. Rookie Andrew Wiggins had 10 points and three rebounds in the quarter.
The Nuggets (22-39) went on a 14-0 run in the second and outscored Minnesota 20-7 in the first seven minutes of the quarter, closing the first half with another 7-2 stretch and a 60-43 lead at the break.
Denver guard Will Barton knocked down two 3-pointers in the midst of Minnesota’s scoring drought and had 10 first-half points.
Denver did not make a field goal until Wilson Chandler’s 3-pointer more than three minutes into the third quarter as Minnesota pulled within 10.
The Timberwolves got as close as nine on guard Zach LaVine’s 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter before the Nuggets went on an 8-0 run, pushing the lead back to 15 on a layup by guard Jameer Nelson with 8:33 to play.
Denver had a 51-43 edge on the glass and outscored Minnesota 52-28 in the paint. The Nuggets also had 21 second-chance points.
Barton had 17 points and six rebounds off the bench. Nelson added 12 points and nine assists.
Wiggins led Minnesota with 20 points and five rebounds. Guard Ricky Rubio had 10 points and 10 assists for his fourth consecutive double-double.