NBA: Martin, Wolves edge Kings

Sports Xchange
MINNEAPOLIS - Sacramento guard Isaiah Thomas hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, but Minnesota guard Kevin Martin made six free throws in the final 30 seconds and the Timberwolves held on for a 104-102 victory on Sunday at the Target Center that officially eliminated the Kings from playoff contention.
Martin, who played his first six NBA season with the Kings, hit all 14 of his free throws en route to a game-high 31 points - the most Martin has scored since he had 32 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 4.
Minnesota forward Kevin Love turned in his fourth double-double of the season and his 43rd 20/10 game with 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who won for the third time in the last four home games to keep their razor-thin playoff hopes alive.
Love also hit three 3-pointers, giving him two or more in 13 straight game - the longest streak in the NBA this season.
Rookie center Gorgui Dieng gave Minnesota a boost in place of injured center Nikola Pekovic, posting a double-double in his first start with career highs in points (12), rebounds (11) and blocked shots (5) in 37 minutes.
Thomas paced the Kings with 27 points, including 13 of Sacramento’s last 15 points in the third quarter and two late 3-pointers to keep the Kings within a possession.
Minnesota 104,
Sacramento 102
Sacramento 29 25 20 28 - 102
Minnesota 32 21 24 27 - 104
SACRAMENTO (102)
I.Thomas 11-21 1-2 27, Gay 6-15 2-3 14, Gray 2-3 0-0 4, McLemore 2-4 0-0 4, R.Evans 4-6 0-0 8, J.Thompson 2-6 2-3 6, Dr.Williams 8-15 8-10 26, Outlaw 3-7 0-0 6, Acy 0-3 0-0 0, McCallum 3-5 1-1 7. Totals 41-85 14-19 102.
MINNESOTA (104)
Kv.Martin 8-20 14-14 31, Love 9-15 5-7 26, Dieng 5-7 2-6 12, Rubio 3-8 5-7 12, C.Brewer 5-9 0-0 10, Cunningham 1-7 0-0 2, Barea 1-6 2-2 5, Hummel 2-4 2-2 6, Mbah a Moute 0-0 0-0 0, Budinger 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 34-78 30-38 104.
3-Point Goals: Sacramento 6-19 (I.Thomas 4-10, Dr.Williams 2-4, Acy 0-1, Gay 0-1, McCallum 0-1, Outlaw 0-2), Minnesota 6-17 (Love 3-6, Rubio 1-1, Barea 1-3, Kv.Martin 1-3, C.Brewer 0-1, Hummel 0-1, Budinger 0-2). Fouled out: McLemore. Rebounds: Sacramento 48 (Dr.Williams 11), Minnesota 35 (Dieng 11). Assists: Sacramento 17 (I.Thomas 7), Minnesota 23 (Rubio 9). Total Fouls: Sacramento 25 (McLemore 6), Minnesota 17 (Rubio 4). A-NA.