MINNEAPOLIS -- An unexpectedly strong performance in the middle gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a big lift Sunday night. Kevin Love had his usual solid performance with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 104-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings. But it was the other double-double that was unexpected. In his first career start, rookie Gorgui Dieng had his first career double-double with season highs in points (12) and rebounds (11) for Minnesota. He also had five blocks. "Were a man short right now and Gorgui, he just came in and did what we needed him to do and thats just rebound and alter shots at the basket," said Kevin Martin, who had 31 points Dieng, the 21st pick in last summers draft, made his first career start in place of Nikola Pekovic, who sat out with soreness in his right ankle. "I was prepared if I get minutes or not I was just going to keep working," Dieng said. "I think you should work more when you dont play a lot. I didnt get minutes. I never got frustrated. Just keep working and I know my time will come one day." A former Timberwolves player saw Diengs potential firsthand. "I told him since the first day he got here that its your job to block shots. You got drafted to rebound and block shots. His post games getting better as well. If he sticks with that hes going to be a good player in this league," said Derrick Williams, who scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds off the bench for Sacramento. Williams knows about being a young player in Minnesota. The second-overall pick in the 2011 Draft, Williams had two disappointing seasons with the Timberwolves before being traded to Sacramento on Nov. 26 for Luc Mbah a Moute, who has been a non-factor for Minnesota. "I think anybody who gets traded wants to play good against the team that traded them," he said. "I just wanted to be aggressive because (DeMarcus) Cousins was out and I was the next man up. Coach wants me to be aggressive and thats what I did tonight." Cousins, the Kings starting centre, missed the game with right knee tendinitis. He was replaced by Aaron Gray, who hadnt seen action since Feb. 25. Gray finished with four points in 20 minutes. "Its a testament to Aarons work ethic and his positive attitude for him to be ready to play tonight after not playing in so many games," coach Michael Malone said. "It was good to see him out there." Love hit 3 of 6 3-pointers, including one with 1:07 to play to give Minnesota a 97-95 lead and the Timberwolves hung on to win for the 33rd time, their most wins since 2005-06. Sacramentos Isaiah Thomas had 27 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds to keep it close. Thomas scored from beyond the arc with 13.2 seconds left to get the Kings within two. After Martin made two free throws to make it 102-98 with 12.1 seconds left, Thomas answered with another 3-pointer before Martin made two more free throws with 5.7 seconds left. It was the second straight night the Kings couldnt close out a game, leaving them with a 2-5 record on a season-long seven-game road trip. They were outscored by six points in the fourth quarter and lost 94-87 in Chicago Saturday. "We were in there; we had a chance to win, but we just couldnt capitalize," Thomas said. Down 29-19 late in the first quarter, Williams provided a spark by scoring 10 straight points off the bench to get the Kings within three by quarters end. Williams had six more in the second quarter as the Kings took a 54-53 halftime lead. NOTES: Sacramento has officially been eliminated from playoff contention. ... Listed as day to day, Pekovic missed 13 games earlier this season -- including all of February -- with bursitis in his right ankle. ... Minnesota entered the game averaging a league-low 3.5 blocks per game. ... Thomas reached 1,000 career assists with a first-quarter helper, becoming the eighth player in Sacramento history to have that many in his first three seasons with the Kings. ... Martin made his 1,000th career 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. ... Twelve of Sacramentos final 15 games are in the Pacific time zone. Fake China Jerseys .In a statement released Friday, the Catalan club said the Brazil stars recovery would be monitored to determine when he can begin training again. China Jerseys Cheap . After two months of mediocrity, perhaps the Washington Nationals have turned the page. Strasburg struck out 11 in seven innings Wednesday night and the Nationals kept the Philadelphia Phillies bats quiet yet again in an 8-4, rain-interrupted win. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/. -- C.J. Cron hit an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, doubled his second time up and hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth inning to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- Wes Welker is unlikely to suit up for Denvers game Thursday against San Diego after leaving Sundays win over Tennessee with his second concussion in four games. China Jerseys Stitched . Kenny Miller scored from the penalty spot and Camilo Sanvezzo came off the bench to add two late goals as the Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 victory over the sagging Impact on Saturday afternoon.BRANDON, Man. -- Jake DeBrusk scored once and set up three more as the Swift Current Broncos doubled up the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-3 on Friday in Western Hockey League play. Connor Sanvido had a goal and an assist for the Broncos (12-8-1), who extended their win streak to six games, while Andrew Johnson and Graham Black each registered a goal and an assist. Jordan Harris and Jay Merkley added single goals. Richard Nejezchleb scored twice for the Wheat Kings (9-11-0) and Ryan Pulock had the other. Swift Currents Landon Bow made 35 saves for the win as Brandons Jordan Papirny stopped 35-of-41 shots in a losing cause. Both clubs went 2 for 6 on the power play. --- BLADES 4 WARRIORS 3 MOOSE JAW, Sask. -- Alex Moodie stopped 39 shots as Saskatoon held on to defeat the Warriors. Nathan Burns led the Blades (9-10-2) with a goal and an assist while Nick Zajac and Collin Valcourt each had a goal and an assist. Brett Stovin added a single goal. Jack Rodewald, Travis Brown and Josh Uhrich scored for Moose Jaw (6-11-4). Justin Paulic made 26 saves for the Warriors. --- REBELS 3 ICE 0 CRANBROOK, B.C. -- Patrik Bartosak only had to stop 19 shots to blank Kootenay. Conner Bleackley, Rhyse Dieno and Cole Chorney scored for Red Deer (8-11-1) while Dominik Volek chipped in with two assists. Wyatt Hoflin made 25 saves for the Ice (9-8-2), who were shutout for the second time this season. Kootenay fell to 6-6-0 on home ice. --- CHIEFS 6 HURRICANES 2 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Mitch Holmberg scored three times and had an assist as Spokane handed the Hurricanes their eight loss in a row. Adam Helewka, Carter Popoff and Jackson Playfair also scored for the Chiefs (14-6-0) while Reid Gow tacked on two assists. Giorgio Estephan and Russell Maxwell had a goal apiece for Lethbridge (2-15-3) and Carter Folk had a game-high 22 minutes in penalties. Garret Hughson stopped 21 shots for Spokane. Hurricanes netminder Corbin Boes made 31 saves in defeat. --- TIGERS 5 RAIDERS 3 MEDICINE HAT, Sask. -- Daniel Wapple turned away 40 shots and Cole Sanford score twice as the Tigers toppled Prince Albert. Logan McVeigh, Chad Labelle and Jacob Doty also scored for the Tigers (12-3-33) and Trevor Cox registered three assists.dddddddddddd Leon Draisaitl scored for the Raiders (11-7-2) and set up both Josh Morrissey and Dakota Conroy. Nick McBridge made 44 saves for Prince Albert. --- OIL KINGS 5 BLAZERS 0 KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Tyler Santos stopped 33 shots for his first-career shutout as Edmonton crushed the Blazers. Brandon Ralph led all Oil King (12-7-1) skaters with two goals while Curtis Lazar, Edgars Kulda and Henrik Samuelsson added the others. Sam Grist and Jordan Thomson were both minus-three for Kamloops (6-12-2). Bolton Pouliot allowed three goals on 15 shots before being pulled for Taran Kozun, who stopped 23-of-25 shots in 33 minutes of relief for the Blazers. --- ROCKETS 5 COUGARS 2 KELOWNA, B.C. -- The Rockets scored four straight goals in the third period to earn their sixth win in as many outings. Tyson Baillie, Colton Heffley, Nick Merkley and Ryan Olsen scored in the final 20 minutes for Kelowna (13-2-2) which trailed 2-0 early in the second period, while Riley Stadel scored his clubs first goal of the contest. Marc McNulty and Jordan Tkatch supplied the offence for the Cougars (7-10-4). Jackson Whistle made 26 saves for the Rockets as Ty Edmonds turned back 46 shots for Prince George. --- SILVERTIPS 2 AMERICANS 0 EVERETT, Wash. -- Tyler Sandhus goal 1:30 into the second period stood up as the winner as the Silvertips defeated Tri-City. Mirco Mueller added an insurance goal for Everett (13-3-2) and Daniel Cotton stopped 14 shots for the shutout. Tri-City lost in regulation for the first time in eight outings as they entered the game 6-0-1 in its last seven games. Eric Comrie made 33 saves for the Americans (11-9-2). --- ROYALS 5 THUNDERBIRDS 3 KENT, Wash. -- Coleman Vollrath stopped 43-of-46 shots as Victoria beat Seattle. Brandon Magee and Brandon Fushimi each scored twice for the Royals (11-9-1) while Tyler Soy had a goal and two assists. Shea Theodore scored all three goals for the Thunderbirds (11-6-2). Seattles Justin Myles started in net but was pulled when he gave up three goals on seven shots. Danny Mumaugh took over in goal and stopped 11-of-12 shots in 35 minutes of relief. ' ' '