By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Denver Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari, left, of Italy, attempts a layup as Minnesota Timberwolves' Nikola Pekovic, right, of Montenegro, and Andrei Kirilenko, center, of Russia, look on in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in St. Paul. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Andre Iguodala had 18 points and nine rebounds to spoil Kevin Love's surprise season debut in the Denver Nuggets' 101-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points for the Nuggets, who withstood a furious start by a Timberwolves team buoyed by the return of their All-Star power forward.
Love scored 34 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, helping the Wolves take a 17-point lead in the first half. But he didn't get a whole lot of help in his first game in nearly five weeks. Nikola Pekovic had 10 points and seven rebounds in his return from a three-game absence.
After a sluggish start to the season, the Nuggets (6-6) have picked up two straight quality road wins against Memphis and Minnesota.