DENVER, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- J.J. Barea's 3-pointer gave Minnesota a six-point lead heading into the final 2 minutes Thursday and the Timberwolves held on to defeat Denver 101-97.
Minnesota, coming off a thumping by Utah the night before, climbed above the .500 mark by handing the Nuggets only their second home loss of the season.
The game was deadlocked when Luke Ridnour put the Timberwolves in front for good with a 3-pointer that came with 2:43 remaining. After a miss by the Nuggets, Barea added his 3-point shot that boosted the Minnesota lead to 97-91.
Denver came no closer than three points the rest of the way.
Both Barea and Alexey Shved scored 17 points. Ridnour and Andrei Kirilenko had 14 each. Kevin Love scored 12 points to go with 17 rebounds. Minnesota claimed 17 offensive boards.
Kosta Koufos and Ty Lawson both delivered 16 points for the Nuggets, whose only other home loss this season came against Miami on Nov. 15. Denver has played 10 more games on the road than it has at home.
