Ricky Rubio had a career-high 28 points and 14 assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 in the season opener.
It was the Wolves’ first game since Flip Saunders’ death.
Kevin Martin scored 23 points for the Timberwolves, who played with heavy hearts three days after they lost Saunders, the longtime coach and team president who battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Minnesota led 111-102 with 2:11 left, but the Lakers finished on a 9-1 run. Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to trim Minnesota’s lead to one point, and Martin missed a jumper for Minnesota before Williams missed a leaning 4-footer at the buzzer.
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points in the first game of his 20th season with the Lakers, breaking John Stockton’s NBA record for the most seasons with one team.
