Love sets consecutive double-double mark (AP)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Kevin Love(notes) recorded his 52nd double-double in a row to
surpass Moses Malone for the longest such streak since the ABA and NBA merged in
1976 in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 101-75 over the free-falling Indiana Pacers
on Wednesday night.

Love overcame a bruised left knee to put up 16 points and 21 rebounds in
just 27 minutes to help the Timberwolves win for just the 16th time this season.
Love didn’t waste any time extending the streak, reaching double figures in
points and rebounds with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.

Tyler Hansbrough(notes) scored 21 points for the Pacers, who shot a season-low 29
percent to lose their fifth straight game. Forward Danny Granger(notes) managed just 10
points on 2-for-19 shooting.

Michael Beasley(notes) added 16 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes for
Minnesota.

Love wasn’t even certain he was going to play in the game until shortly
before tipoff after bruising his left knee in a loss to Dallas on Monday. But he
decided to give it a go.

With the Pacers clanging shot after shot, Love had 10 rebounds in just 12
minutes of playing time. And the crowd knew it, too.

Love grabbed his first rebound in the first 10 seconds of the game and one
fan yelled, “That’s one! That’s one!”

He stepped to the free throw line with 6:51 to play in the first half and
nine points and 10 boards, and the crowd rose to its feet and roared.

The first free throw splashed through, and Love let out a big sigh of relief
as his achievement was announced. He gave a wave to the crowd, then went back to
work.

Only nine players in NBA history—both before and after the merger—have
had at least 50 double-doubles in a row. All eight besides Love—Malone, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Jerry
Lucas and Bill Russell—are in the Hall of Fame.

Next up on the list of longest streaks is Hayes with 55 in a row in 1973-74.

Even better, Love got to watch the entire fourth quarter from the bench,
resting a knee that was clearly bothering him while he was on the court. The
Timberwolves won for just the 12th time during his streak.

The Pacers are in the middle of a streak of their own, and it’s not a good
one. After winning seven of their first eight games following the firing of
coach Jim O’Brien, the Pacers have lost seven of their last eight games and are
losing by an average of 17 points over the past five.

They entered the night 1 1/2 games ahead of Charlotte for the eighth and final
playoff spot and hit a new low in getting blown out by the worst team in the
Western Conference.

Hansbrough made two of his first four shots, but his teammates missed their
first 15 field goals. The game got out of hand in the third quarter when Indiana
scored just two points in the first six minutes to fall behind by 22.

Notes: Pacers F Josh McRoberts(notes) left the game in the second quarter with a
sore right knee and did not return. … Love also set a franchise record early
in the third quarter with his 309th offensive rebound of the season. … Wolves
F Wes Johnson(notes) did not play in the second half because of an upset stomach. …
Timberwolves F Lazar Hayward(notes) missed the game with an illness.