Love leads Timberwolves past Celtics in preseason

MONTREAL – Kevin Love had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-89 preseason win against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

The game was held in Montreal as part of the 2013 NBA Canada series.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love (left) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics’ Vitor Faverani during the third quarter of their NBA preseason game in Montreal, Canada. AP

Kevin Martin scored 21 points for the Timberwolves (3-2). Ricky Rubio had 15 points and a game-high seven assists.

“We’re getting more acclimated with each other each day that goes by,” said Martin, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Oklahoma City. “I’m very hopeful for the season. We have a good team here. We have high expectations for ourselves as a team. We expect to win games.”

Gerald Wallace had 16 points for Boston (1-6). Toronto native Kelly Olynyk scored four points in 19 minutes.

“It’s fun. It’s an honor to play in front of your country,” Olynyk said. “It’s a special feeling.”

Minnesota put together a 12-0 run to grab an 18-7 lead on Martin’s 3-pointer with 6:24 left in the first quarter. The Timberwolves led 57-51 at halftime and carried an 81-72 lead into the final period.

Martin was 5 for 8 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and three assists.

“It’s a really tough guard when you have a guy like Kevin Martin who’s so fast and can get open, runs the break, can shoot the ball from distance,” Love said. “He only needs a split-second.”