Mavericks vs. Timberwolves: Love Steps Up in Wolves' First Victory

Kevin Love. It’s simply amazing to watch the man play the game of basketball. He’s not the flashiest player in the world, and he’s not going to throw down highlight-reel dunks, but he’s one of the best players in the league.

The longest tenured Timberwolf led his team to a 99-82 win over the defending world champion Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

Love was incredible, achieving yet another double-double with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Fifteen of Love’s points came from three-pointers, as he made five out of six from deep.

Love helped secure the Wolves win once the Mavericks cut the Wolves’ lead to two. From then on, he hit a couple big threes and led the Wolves to victory, ending the game on a 15-0 run.

Of course, Love wouldn't have been set up to score without the Spanish sensation, Ricky Rubio, who once again impressed. Rubio had 14 points (2-3 from three) and seven assists in 24 minutes off the bench. Rubio didn't just set up Love for threes, but also Anthony Tolliver.

Tolliver finally came into his own after struggling in the Wolves' first three games. Against the Mavericks, Tolliver finally found his stroke and scored 13 points on three three-pointers and pulled down six boards.

The story of the game for the Mavericks was the fact that their offense never seemed to get into swing. Dallas’ offense runs through Dirk Nowitzki, but Nowitzki couldn't buy a bucket in the first half, finishing the half with only four points.

Nowitzki did step it up in the second half, scoring 17 to cut the Wolves' lead down to two before Love and the Wolves went on a 15-0 run. Nowitzki finished with 21 points and six rebounds.

Dirk did become only the sixth player in history to score 1,000 points in their career against the Timberwolves. The other members of the club are Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Nowitzki didn't get much support from his supporting cast; only Delonte West and Jason Terry scored in double digits with 13 and 10 respectively.

Micheal Beasley was injured in the last minutes of the game. It looked like a hand or finger injury, and Beasley was seen screaming in pain. 

Before the Wolves' victory, the Mavericks were 18-1 against the Timberwolves since 2006. But, now the Wolves are a completely different team.

The Wolves finally have talent on their roster. Add a seasoned coach and some ambition, and it results in a lot more fight from the scrappy Wolves team.