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MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Love landed hard on his hip after a foul late in the game. His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The win over the languishing Los Angeles Lakers was nice, too. Love had 31 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to 109-99 victory on Tuesday that spoiled Steve Nashs return and stuck the Lakers with their seventh straight defeat. "I just want to continue to keep playing and give this team all that I can," Love said. "Yeah, Ive taken a physical beating, but youve got to expect being one of the top guys that theyre going to come at you." Kevin Martin helped the Timberwolves get off to a fast start, scoring 14 of his season-high-tying 32 points in the opening 10 minutes as the NBAs highest-scoring first-quarter team surged to a 25-point lead midway through the second period. They stumbled some after halftime, letting the Lakers pull within seven points early in the fourth quarter. "Its just one of those things where the game isnt going to be as easy as you think," coach Rick Adelman said. "You just have to persevere." With Nikola Pekovic likely out through the All-Star break, the Wolves started a difficult week, a theme of Adelmans pregame message. They play at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and New Orleans on Friday before hosting Portland on Saturday, a crucial stretch for a team running out of time to climb back into the playoff picture. But Love picked up the Wolves and carried them to an important win, playing the part of the burly Pekovic by throwing his body at the basket as often as he could. He made it to the line for 18 free throws, making 13. "We realize how good he is. He has incredible toughness," Martin said, adding: "He gets dirty down there. Thats why we pay him the big bucks and thats why hes an All-Star starter, to do things like that." Nash had been sidelined since Nov. 10 because of nerve problems in his back. The soon-to-be-40-year-old two-time league MVP had seven points and nine assists in 25 minutes, about 10 more than he was supposed to play. "I feel a bit selfish in that we lost but it felt great just to play in the NBA again," Nash said, smiling. "Obviously the game didnt go as we hoped, but for me personally thats pretty cool to be back out there." Coach Mike DAntoni was pleased. "I thought he competed, and weve got to have everybody compete that way," DAntoni said. Steve Blake also returned, coming back from a torn ligament in his right elbow that had shelved him since Dec. 10. He ruptured his eardrum during the game but kept playing on another night of bad luck and bad defence for the fallen franchise. Blake was scoreless in 31 minutes and took only two shots. Fittingly, as soon as two guys came back, two more went out. Jodie Meeks (sprained right ankle, first quarter) and backup Jordan Hill (headache and neck strain, first quarter) were hurt for the Lakers, who have been without star Kobe Bryant for most of the season. Pau Gasol also sat out with a strained right groin and could be out until after the All-Star break. DAntoni said Meeks wont play the rest of the road trip at Cleveland on Wednesday or at Philadelphia on Friday. Hill was walking stiffly in the locker room after the game but was held out as a precaution, the coach said. "I just feel for those guys. I just was in their position," Blake said. "Unfortunately its a part of the game, and the rest of us have to pick it up." The Lakers reserves had a whopping 70 points, with Nick Young (24 points), Manny Harris (17 points) and former Timberwolves first-round draft pick Wes Johnson (15 points and nine rebounds) leading the way. But the Lakers still lost for the 19th time in their last 22 games and fell into a tie for last place in the Western Conference with Utah and Sacramento. This was also their first loss at Target Center in almost seven years, ending an 11-game run. NOTES: This was the league-high seventh time this season that Love had at least 30 points and 15 rebounds. He has 25 for his career, one more than Kevin Garnett on the franchises career list. ... The Lakers have allowed 100-plus points in 15 straight games, their longest such streak since 17 in a row during the 1986-87 season. Gussie Busch Cardinals Jersey . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play. Fake Cardinals Jerseys . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/204t-roger-maris-jersey-cardinals.html . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys . There were no real chances until Augsburg broke the deadlock through Raul Bobadilla in the 33rd minute. Frankfurt failed to clear a cross and Bobadilla slotted home from close range at the far post. St. Louis Cardinals Gear . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night.ALLEN PARK, Mich. - As usual, Martin Mayhew chose his words carefully when assessing the off-season for the Detroit Lions — but the biggest issue facing the team is fairly obvious.Ndamukong Suh, Detroits All-Pro defensive tackle, can become a free agent now, and if he leaves, the Lions would have to scramble to replace his formidable presence in the middle of their defence.I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with him on Monday, said Mayhew, Detroits general manager. We had a good conversation. We look forward to working with him to try to get a deal done.Mayhew spoke to reporters for about a half-hour Thursday, recapping a solid year in which the Lions made the playoffs for only the second time in the past 15 seasons.Suh was a big part of Detroits 11-win season, helping the Lions become one of the leagues top teams against the run.Mayhew said Suh is open to staying in Detroit.We talked about that on Monday, had a good conversation with him, Mayhew said. He wants to be here and we want him to be here. As I said before, I think thats a pretty good combination. Well see how it all plays out.Mayhew said hes leaving all options open with Suh — including the possibility of using the franchise tag on him. The teams preference, though, is to reach a long-term deal.The fact that Detroit is coming off an encouraging season probably wont hurt.He likes to win, I know that, Mayhew said. I know he likes coach (Jim) Caldwell, I know hes very comfortable here in Detroit, so those things all play in our favour. At the end of the day money talks, so well have to step up in terms of pursuing him financially as well.Suhs situation — however its resolved — could have a major effect on the rest of Detroits plans this off-season.Defensive tackle Nick Fairley can also become a free agent, and the offence is coming off an uneven season in which the line struggled to protect quarterback Matthew Stafford.Although he addressed Suhs uncertain future, Mayhew wouldnt talk much about the status of any individual players. Veteran offensive linemen Rob Sims and Domiinic Raiola have reached the end of their contracts, and offensive lineman Travis Swanson — a third-round pick in last years draft — may be ready for a bigger role.ddddddddddddMaking the playoffs was an important step in Caldwells first season as Detroits coach, but the Lions lost the regular-season finale at Green Bay with the NFC North title at stake. Then they fell 24-20 at Dallas in their post-season opener.We have to get better from a talent standpoint. We have to be a better football team, Mayhew said. I think were a good football team right now, but were not a great football team. We have to be able to go and win at Green Bay, which we have not done in a long time.Having a bye and having a home game would have obviously helped us in terms of the playoffs and advancing. In those games, the other team played better than we played and we lost.One thing Mayhew didnt want to do was dwell on the pass interference flag that was rescinded late in the loss to Dallas. The reversal by the officials cost the Lions what would have been a huge first down, and the Cowboys ended up rallying to win.I think that the focus on a couple bad calls takes away from the fact that two really good teams played an outstanding football game that day, Mayhew said. You know, when the penalty happened there were eight minutes left in the game when they got the ball back.We had every opportunity to do something to overcome that and do something positive to win that game and we didnt. ... Im from the old school of, No excuses, no explanations. Did you win the game? No, we didnt win it. They won it, they advanced. We hope to see them next year at some point.NOTES: Mayhew was asked about rugby star Jarryd Hayne, who visited Detroit recently during his tour of NFL teams. Were always on the lookout for players that can help us, Mayhew said. Well see what happens. Hes still out there and hes still looking at other teams as well. Im not sure whatll happen with him, but wed like to have him.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '