The Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled what could have been a great celebratory night for Mavs fans by defeating Dallas 105-90 on the night the team was presented last year’s championship rings. The fans gave a standing ovation to former Mav JJ Barea, who now plays for Minnesota, as he and two other retired Mavs also received their championship rings at the Wednesday night pregame ceremony.

The game started off well enough for Dallas who led 27-26 at the end of the first quarter and was rolling to a double-digit head with just five minutes to go in the first half. Then somehow Minnesota flipped a switch and started playing lights out. Kevin Love hit two three pointers, and then a couple of turnovers and suddenly the Mavs just had a two point lead at half. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves rode the momentum into the second half as their hot shooting continued. Dirk Nowitzki-less Dallas simply could not respond and was outscored by eight and nine points, respectively, in the third and fourth quarters.

Kevin Love started earning his new $60 million contract with a 31 point, 10 rebound performance for Minnesota. Love has now had a double-double in 17 out Minnesota’s 18 games this NBA season. Ricky Rubio also chipped in 17 points and 12 assists for the Timberwolves. Jason Terry was the leading scorer for Dallas with 17 points, and Shawn Marion added 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Dallas drops to 11-8 with the loss and will host Utah on Friday at 8:30 PM EST. Minnesota moves to 8-10 on the season with the win and gets to enjoy a day off before returning home to face the Spurs on Friday night at 8 PM EST

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By Jon Krawczynski, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Love had 20 points and 17 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a dreadful start to the game to slug out a 93-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Anthony Tolliver had 11 points off the bench and shut down Tayshaun Prince in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves to their third win in four games.

Prince finished with 29 points, but scored only four in the fourth as the Pistons gave away a 13-point third-quarter lead. The Pistons missed 11 free throws and were outscored 29-14 in the final quarter to lose for the ninth time in 10 games.

The Timberwolves trailed by 16 in the second quarter and didn’t hold a lead until there was less than nine minutes to play in the game.