J.J. Barea has scored 10 points off the bench to help the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 50-42 halftime lead over the Sacramento Kings in Minnesota's season-opener Friday.
Minnesota is shooting just 39 percent from the field, and the team is just 1-for-9 from 3-point range, but Barea, Luke Ridnour, who has nine points on 4-for-6 shooting, and Andrei Kirilenko, who has scored eight points on 3-for-4 shooting with two rebounds and two assists, have helped propel the Wolves to the lead.
Minnesota out-scored the Kings 28-18 in the first quarter and the Kings out-scored the T-Wolves 23-22 in the second.
Sacramento is shooting just 35 percent and the Kings are 0-for-5 from 3-point range. Jason Thomas has eight points on 4-for-6 shooting with six rebounds and two assists. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has four points, but he has also picked up four personal fouls in the first half. Marcus Thornton has scored 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting off the bench.