MINNEAPOLIS -- When the shots werent falling for Minnesota in the past, the Timberwolves simply had no chance. Jurgen Klinsmann Jersey . Now Rick Adelmans crew has suddenly turned into a solid defensive unit, and the Wolves needed to be against the Detroit Pistons. Kevin Love had 20 points and 17 rebounds and the Timberwolves overcame a dreadful start to the game to slug out a 93-85 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night. Anthony Tolliver had 11 points off the bench and shut down Tayshaun Prince in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves to their third win in four games. They had 11 steals, scored 23 points off 19 turnovers and held the Pistons to 14 points in the decisive final quarter. "Were just a lot tougher than definitely we were last year," Tolliver said of his Timberwolves, who were the worst defensive team in the league last season. "We just get tougher by the game." Prince finished with 29 points, but scored only four in the fourth as the Pistons gave away a 13-point third-quarter lead. The Pistons missed 11 free throws to lose for the ninth time in 10 games. The Timberwolves trailed by 16 in the second quarter and didnt hold a lead until there was less than nine minutes to play in the game. "We cant keep playing well for 42 minutes and then the last six minutes give the game away," said Pistons big man Greg Monroe, who had 13 points and 12 boards before fouling out. "As a team, we have to get better and finishing and putting the game away." Ricky Rubio had nine points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals, making up for 1-for-8 shooting with some stellar playmaking down the stretch. He went around his back on a drive to the basket in the third quarter, then split a double team and found Wayne Ellington for a 3-pointer and an 88-81 lead that essentially put the game away. Ben Gordon finished with 18 points, but the Pistons shot just 47 per cent on free throws after entering the game third in the league at 80 per cent. Love bought 1,000 tickets for fans to this one as part of a promotion to try and keep the attendance at Target Center high against a team that had been drawing the fewest fans on the road in the league. They were treated to an ugly one early. Both teams were stuck in mud to start the game, but Prince hit six straight shots after an 0-for-5 start to put the Pistons up 16 with just under five minutes to play in the first half. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, couldnt buy a basket. Luke Ridnour and Rubio combined to go 1 for 13 in the first half and the Wolves were shooting 23.5 per cent for the first 19 minutes. "We just couldnt sustain it," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "We just had breakdowns, not just on the ball, but off the ball, too." Brandon Knight scored on a fast break to close an 11-4 spurt at the start of the third quarter that pushed the lead back to 13 points, and Adelman was visibly frustrated with the inability to find a group that clicked. But they hung in with defence, which is a rarity in these parts. The Wolves gave up 107.7 points a game last season. Through 14 games this season, theyre allowing 92.5. "It feels good. Its something thats been lacking the last few years," Love said. "In games like this where its ugly on the offensive end, we were still able to get the job done." Playing for the first time in four games because of a sprained left ankle, J.J. Barea helped shoot the Wolves back into the game, hitting a 3-pointer to give them their first lead at 74-73. Ellington threw down a dunk and Tolliver scored on a steal and layup and the Wolves were off and running. "We have to find a way to win. We havent yet," Prince said. "Theres going to be times when we shoot the ball well and the other team responds. We have to understand late in games what we have to do to win." Notes: Love had his 14th straight double-double to open the season. ... Pistons F Jason Maxiell drew jeers in the third quarter when he air-balled a free throw. He almost air-balled the second as well, but barely caught the front iron. .... Wolves F Michael Beasley missed his seventh straight game with a sprained right foot. ... Twins great Tony Oliva attended the game and chatted with Rubio before tipoff. Erik Durm Germany Jersey . With the Washington Redskins trading up to position themselves for quarterback Robert Griffin III, the new hot name in the arms race is Texas A&Ms Ryan Tannehill, who could become the consolation prize for one of the teams that failed to land Manning. Mesut Ozil Jersey . The 29-year-old German, the 2011 overall World Cup champion, says she has decided "to end my career now.ATLANTA -- Officials have approved the design and a preliminary $1.2 billion budget for a new Atlanta Falcons stadium. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority board of governors on Tuesday unanimously approved the complete schematic design and the budget, which is up $200 million from the previous estimate. The design was recently completed by an architecture firm. The design team had presented a conceptual design earllier this year, but officials say the new version includes more details. Christoph Kramer Jersey. Board chairman Tim Lowe told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the extra $200 million included in the budget will be covered by the Falcons. Bonds backed by the citys hotel-motel tax are set to cover $200 million of the stadiums cost, while the rest is to be covered by the team, the NFL and personal seat license sales. ' ' '
