MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Martin shook off an illness to score 37 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, missing three starters, beat the New York Knicks 115-99 on Wednesday night.
Martin tied a career high with seven 3-pointers andShabazz Muhammad had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Wolves, who were missing Ricky Rubio, Thaddeus Young and Nikola Pekovic. Rubio and Pekovic were out because of injuries and Young was away because of the death of his mother.
Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and Amare Stoudemire added 19 for the Knicks. But New York had nothing else on the second night of a back-to-back following a loss in Milwaukee.
Anthony and Stoudemire combined to shoot 14 of 19 and the rest of the Knicks were just 20 for 50.
The Wolves were playing their first home game in 18 days after a brutal six-game road trip in which they lost Rubio to a sprained ankle in the second game and Pekovic to a sprained right wrist in the last. Young also left the team after his mother died suddenly and Ronny Turiaf is out with a bad hip, meaning the Wolves had only one true big man in Gorgui Dieng available Wednesday.
Martin and Corey Brewer both needed IV fluids before the game in order to play while battling illness, but Martin had 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the first quarter to get the Wolves rolling.
The Knicks have been among the worst teams in the league at defending the 3-pointer this season, which invited even the Timberwolves into letting it fly. They entered the night last in the league in 3-point attempts per game at just over 14 tries a night. But with no Knicks in the vicinity of the arc Wednesday, it was bombs away.
Martin hit 3 of 4 from deep in the first quarter and the Wolves made eight by halftime, which was more than they had made in an entire game this season. They finished with 11.
The gimpy Stoudemire was spry in the first half against the depleted front line, but both he and Anthony combined for just four points in the entire second half.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Coach Derek Fisher played it coy before the game when asked about the status of injured PG Jose Calderon and F Andrea Bargnani, both of whom are believed to be nearing a return. Fisher said they would be evaluated on Thursday and Friday before making a decision about the game on Saturday against the 76ers. ... Jason Smith was the only other Knick in double figures with 14 points.
Timberwolves: Coach Flip Saunders was using rookie PG Zach LaVine in the starting lineup after Rubio went down on the second game of the road trip. But with LaVine looking a little overwhelmed, Saunders gave the veteran Mo Williams the start and he delivered his best game of the season with 14 points and 13 assists. ... Brewer finished with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.
Timberwolves: Host San Antonio on Friday.