Minnesota Timberwolves 112, Milwaukee Bucks 100: Ball's 34 and a 64-point second half

LaMelo Ball scored 34 points and the Timberwolves scored 64 after halftime to beat the Bucks 112-100 at Target Center on Monday. Minnesota led by a point at the break. Milwaukee never got more than three in front, and the Wolves closed the fourth quarter 32-24 to put it away.

The win moves Minnesota to 5-3 and drops Milwaukee to 1-6. It also follows Saturday's 121-111 loss at San Antonio. The Wolves had dropped three of their previous four after a 3-0 start.

How it was won

Minnesota opened fast, winning the first quarter 29-18. That cushion disappeared in the second. Milwaukee outscored the Wolves 29-19 and went to the locker room down only 48-47.

The third quarter was close, 32-29 Minnesota, for an 80-76 lead going into the fourth. The fourth is where the game turned. The Wolves scored 32 and held Milwaukee to 24. Their lead peaked at 15.

Ball carried the scoring. He hit 6 of 13 threes and added 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Ayo Dosunmu came close to a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, though he went 1 for 6 from three. Jaden McDaniels added 13 points and 6 rebounds and hit 2 of 4 from deep.

The margin came from possessions more than shooting. Minnesota committed 11 turnovers to Milwaukee's 17 and won the boards 59-53. Points in the paint were even at 42. The Wolves shot 43 percent from the field, 41 of 96, and made 16 of 45 threes.

The Wolves did leave points on the floor at the line. They made 14 of 26 free throws.

Milwaukee shot 38 percent, 38 of 99, and made 15 of 49 threes. Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 21 points and hit 4 of 11 threes. Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Myles Turner added 13 points with 3 of 6 from deep. The Bucks attempted only 12 free throws and made 9.

Against the number

Minnesota closed at -11.5 and won by 12, so the Wolves covered by half a point. Nothing about this one was comfortable for backers of the favorite. The cover came down to the last minutes of a fourth quarter in which Minnesota had already built and then protected a double-digit lead.

The moneyline closed at -497 for Minnesota and +380 for Milwaukee. That price implied the Wolves won something like five times in six, and they did.

The total closed at 233.5. The teams combined for 212, so the game went under by 21.5. Two things kept the score down: the Bucks went 15 of 49 from three, and the Wolves went 14 of 26 at the line. The first half produced only 95 points.

Full prices and line history are on the game page.

What's next

Minnesota is 5-3. Its next opponent and date were not in the material we have for this recap. We will post the matchup and the board as soon as the market opens.

Milwaukee falls to 1-6. Its next game was also not included here, and we will add it once the schedule is confirmed.