Kings come in force to defeat Timberwolves 121-110

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Kings coach Dave Joerger did not like most of what he saw from his first-half team against Minnesota.

The second half was a completely different story and Joerger beamed after, although Sacramento almost lost a double digit lead in the fourth quarter.

Willie Cauley-Stein had 25 points, Nemanja Bjelica scored eight straight in a big race at the end of the third and the Kings beat the Timberwolves 121-110 on Friday night to ruin a huge game for Karl-Anthony Towns .

"I did not think we played very well in the first half and we still had a two-point lead," said Joerger. "We are growing. It's a very good win for us. I think you saw that we may have used them a bit in the second half. "

Starting from consecutive defeats against the Eastern powers of Milwaukee and Toronto, the Kings led by 15 points early in the fourth quarter, but had to resist a late push from Minnesota to end a three-game losing streak against the Timberwolves.

Sacramento's fast pace attack was decisive at both ends, Minnesota got tired in the second half.

"We just keep running," said De'Aaron Fox. "Even if they score goals, that does not worry us. The ball goes up and down on the ground. "

Fox had 16 points and 10 assists for Sacramento. Iman Shumpert scored 17 and Bjelica finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

The cities recorded 39 points and 19 rebounds, a peak in the season, a night when Minnesota's incoherent offensive sprang up.

"To win, you have to play with a certain level of intensity and we are not playing well at the moment," said coach Tom Thibodeau. "It's not a person in particular. It's not a thing in particular. That's all. The crush can make up for a lot and that's what we need to come back to. "

The Timberwolves were led by 14 midway through the fourth quarter before Derrick Rose scored three straight points to start a 12-0 run. Minnesota had the chance to tie the game, but Jimmy Butler missed two free throws with a time remaining of 3:19.

Sacramento took advantage of a pair of turnovers and scored the following seven points to get away.

"We need to do a better job of closing," said Buddy Hield of Sacramento. "I crashed on a ball screen at the top of the key. It's up to us to mentally integrate and focus.

Rose had 21 points, five assists and six rebounds. Butler was a game decision but played 41 minutes and got 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

The Timberwolves are 0-8 on the road.

"We just did not play the transition defense," Towns said. "That's what we have to do. That's why we are hit by another "L" on this trip and have not found a way to win. "

Sacramento missed 11 of his first 14 shots and was 12 behind early in the quarter. Cauley-Stein helped rally the Kings in the second, scoring eight points as Sacramento took a 63-61 lead at half-time.

Towns made his first five shots and earned 7 of 9 points in the first quarter while Minnesota took a 12-point lead. He cooled a bit in the second but made two 3s and got 29 points and eight rebounds at halftime.

DELAYS, DELAYS

The first half ended on a strange note when the Kings were called for two fouls with 0.6 seconds to go, both coming as Minnesota tried to get in the ball. The Timberwolves managed one of two free throws and eventually managed to grab the ball, but Taj Gibson missed a 15-foot goal at the ring.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: The cities had nine offensive rebounds. . Two days after setting a franchise record with 20 points to 3 points, the Timberwolves have failed to find their shot beyond the arc, scoring 7 out of 25. … Andrew Wiggins ( quad right), Jeff Teague (left knee) and Justin Patton (right foot) were held.

Kings: Kosta Koufos made a 19-foot jumper to ring the first quarter. … Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had undergone two left knee interventions during the off season, rested two days after his debut in the season.

FOLLOWING

Timberwolves: arrange nets on Monday.

Kings: Welcome the Lakers on Saturday.

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