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. Marc-Andre Fleury Jersey . Rodgers was ruled out on Friday by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Matt Flynn will make his second consecutive start for the Packers. Cody Eakin Jersey . He never mentioned anything about his hitting. The 33-year-old right-hander had success with both Sunday, pitching six solid innings and helping the offence-starved Mets with an RBI single as New York salvaged a doubleheader split with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. http://www.officialgoldenknightspro.com/Customized/. The traditional pre-Masters event was halted early due to inclement weather. Harrington, who tied for first in 2003 and won in 2004, became the first three-time champion of the event. Paul Stastny Jersey . Therrien would not confirm his lineup for the game, but he did have the same line combinations practicing together for the third straight day which is usually a pretty good indication of what the lineup will be. Brad Hunt Jersey . (January 11, 2014) – Once again Kevin Martin proved why he is the all-time TSN skins leader, winning $11,500 in prize money and a spot in the Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game presented by Pintys final following a semifinal victory over Brad Jacobs earlier this evening at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in Banff, Alta.Southampton are without both of their first-choice full-backs Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares for the visit of Burnley on Super Sunday. Bertrand and Cedric are unavailable as they recover from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively meaning Matt Targett and Cuco Martina are expected to come in.Saints, who are unbeaten at home all season and unbeaten in all competitions since September 10, are up against a Burnley side who have seven points from seven games following a mixed start to their Premier League return. They lost late on against Arsenal last time out, and are yet to pick up a point on the road this term. Watch a preview of Sundays Premier League action - Middlesbrough v Watford and Southampton v Burnley Team newsOther than the problems at full-back for Saints, Shane Long is close to a return, also from a hamstring problem, and Jay Rodriguez could also feature after overcoming a groin strain.Burnley are crossing their fingers that goalkeeper Tom Heaton is fit to face Southampton on Sunday.Heaton withdrew from the England squad last week due to a calf problem and is touch-and-go, with veteran Paul Robinson standing by. Highlights: Leicester 0-0 Southampton Striker Andre Gray serves the third game of a four-match ban for historic social media posts but there are no other concerns.Match statsSouthampton have lost just one of their last five league meetings with Burnley, winning two and drawing two.On home soil, Saints have suffered just one defeat in their last 14 league clashes with Burnley (W7 D6). Burnley manager Sean Dyche believes the experience gained by Michael Keane on his first England call-up can only be of benefit to the club and player Saints have kept six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.dddddddddddd Theyve only enjoyed a longer run once in their history (eight, ending in August 1922).Burnley have enjoyed just two victories in their last 15 Premier League away games, drawing three and losing 10. Highlights: Burnley 0-1 Arsenal Southampton have unbeaten in eight Premier League games on home soil (W5 D3) a run bettered only by Leicester (19) and Liverpool (10).Indeed, Saints have scored in each of their last 13 Premier League games at St. Marys, the best current run in the competition.In his two previous Premier League games against former club Burnley, Charlie Austin has scored twice and been sent off. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. 10 Burnley players have appeared in all seven Premier League games this season, more than any other club.Steven Defour has been directly involved in a Premier League-high 80% of his teams goals this season, scoring one and assisting three of the Clarets five goals.The Clarets have posted a Premier League-low 36.8% average possession figure this season. Claude Puels Saints are 10th in the Premier League Mersons predictionsSouthampton are a good team and I think some people are underestimating them. You look at their back four and they wouldnt look out of place at a club like Arsenal.They should have won easily at Leicester, and I dont care what standard of football you are playing, to keep six straight clean sheets like theyve done is some achievement.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)BettingSouthampton are on a six-game unbeaten run and are 2/5 with Sky Bet for another victory on Sunday against Burnley. Burnley have seven points from seven games this term The visitors are 15/2, with the draw 100/30. Saints have not conceded a goal in any of those last six games, and are even-money to win to nil at St Marys.Charlie Austin just shades favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 ahead of Shane Long (7/2) and Nathan Redmond (4/1).Get all the latest Sky Bet odds here.You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! 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