Wiggins Becomes 1st Minnesota Rookie with 30 Points Since Marbury

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points in Saturday's 113-105 road win over the Denver Nuggets, making him the first Timberwolves rookie since Stephon Marbury in 1996-97 to score 30 or more points in a game, per ESPN Stats & Info.

A runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, Wiggins made 11 of his 17 field-goal attempts during Saturday's game, including four of his five attempts from beyond the arc.

He also converted five of his six free-throw attempts, adding nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal for good measure, with only two turnovers over 40 minutes.

The 19-year-old Canadian has recorded double-digit points in 13 straight games, with 17 or more points in 12 of those 13 outings, including each of the last 10.

Up and down for the first two months of the season, Wiggins has responded to his teammates' injuries better than anyone could have imagined, making the most of his increased opportunities, and then some.

He has played 36 or more minutes in each of the last 10 games, hitting the 40-minute mark on four separate occasions throughout that stretch.

While viewed by many as a long-term project when he entered the league, Wiggins has surprisingly emerged as the most NBA-ready rookie in a relatively uninspiring freshman class.

Of course, it's still far too soon to pass judgement on the 2014 draft, as Wiggins—who went first overall—is the only one of the top four picks who hasn't been severely limited by a major injury this season.