Jarred Vanderbilt scored 18 points against his former team, Taurean Prince added 23 and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench was key in Tuesday’s 130-115 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, and the Timberwolves reservists outscored Denver 68-49.
Minnesota’s second unit took advantage of Denver star Nikola Jokic resting in the first half to take a comfortable lead that the Timberwolves wouldn’t let go.
Minnesota used a 26-8 run late in the first quarter and early in the second. Prince, Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid contributed as substitutes.
All told, the Wolves went on a 25-7 run while Jokic was on the bench.
McLaughlin had nine points and seven assists. Reid added 12 units.
Serbian Jokic finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, but rested the entire fourth quarter, when Minnesota’s lead reached 30 points.
The Nuggets, who were playing the first of two games on back-to-back nights, had their five-game winning streak snapped.
Also for Denver, the Argentine Facundo Campazzo added four assists and one rebound.
