Milwaukee at Minnesota

[Real Deal]

TIME: 8:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Built Ford Tough]

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/college/img21210845.jpg

 

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Love was sick. Ricky Rubio, Chase Budinger and Brandon Roy were all out with injuries and the rest of the Minnesota Timberwolves couldn't buy a bucket for most of the game.

 

So coach Rick Adelman turned to Alexey Shved, the unflappable Russian rookie who is quickly emerging as the team's closer. Just as he did for Russia in the Olympics, the versatile guard came through to save the Timberwolves.

 

Shved scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and Love overcame a nasty stomach bug to collect 15 points and 14 rebounds in Minnesota's 95-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night.

 

"That guy has no filter out there, he just plays," Love said of Shved. "He seems like such a shy guy, but when he gets out there, it's a whole different person."

 

Shved hit three of his four shots in the final quarter, grabbed two steals and had two key assists to help the Timberwolves to a much-needed victory heading into a three-day break.

 

Nikola Pekovic had 14 points and tied a career high with 16 rebounds, and J.J. Barea added 15 points and five assists for the Wolves, who are getting star guard Rubio back at practice this weekend for the first time since he tore an ACL last March.

 

Larry Sanders had a career-high 10 blocks for the Bucks -- tying a franchise record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1973 -- to go with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

 

"I only had two fouls tonight. I think that's what I'm most impressed with," Sanders quipped. "I was able to stay in the game and help my team."

 

Brandon Jennings had 18 points and six boards for the Bucks, who lost backup point guard Beno Udrih to an injured right ankle in the fourth quarter. X-rays were negative and the team said he will be re-evaluated Saturday.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121130_MIL@MIN