Sacramento Kings vs Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score on Dec 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 14, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points, 14 rebounds and a season-high five blocks as the Minnesota Timberwolves coasted to a 119-96 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Andrew Wiggins followed up a rough shooting night two nights earlier to score 22 points for the Wolves on 9-of-17 shooting. Jimmy Butler chipped in 21 for Minnesota (17-12), which has won three of its last four games.

Towns was particularly hard on himself after Minnesota fell to Joel Embiid and the 76ers on Tuesday. Towns blamed himself for the loss, noting he didn't do enough to help Butler's 38-point effort against Philadelphia.

Towns more than made up for it Thursday with another double-double. He scored 27 of his 30 points in the first three quarters. As Minnesota emptied its bench with a double-digit lead, Towns was also able to enjoy some rest in the fourth quarter -- a luxury that hasn't happened much of late for Minnesota's starters.

George Hill scored 16 points while Zach Randolph had 15 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento (9-19).

Minnesota used a 13-0 run in the third quarter to grow its lead to 18 points. Towns had five straight points as part of that run as part of his big night on the offensive end.

The Wolves' lead increased to as many as 27 in the third quarter as Minnesota kept its foot on the gas. It was a welcomed change of pace for Tom Thibodeau's team after Tuesday's exhausting overtime loss to Philadelphia.

Sacramento was never able to chip away significantly at Minnesota's lead. The Kings trailed by 10 after the first quarter and couldn't get within fewer than seven points in the second half.

NOTES: Kings G De'Aaron Fox left Thursday's game in the first half with a left quadriceps contusion. Fox scored two points in seven minutes before exiting the game. ... Timberwolves G Marcus Georges-Hunt, who had played only 15 minutes all season as a seldom-used backup, played a season-high 17 minutes Thursday. He scored five points off the bench and hit his first three-pointer of the season. ... Minnesota C Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his league-leading 23rd double-double of the season. ... Sacramento continues its road trip Sunday in Toronto. ... The Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at Target Center.