:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/25940935/20131228_jla_bl1_516.0.jpg)
Once again, the Timberwolves back to at a .500 mark. After a terrible showing in Los Angeles, the Wolves returned to Minneapolis and put together an impressive victory over Washington, followed by a 22-point win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.
The next set of games for Kevin Love and crew come against a pair of Western Conference teams also fighting for the final few playoff spots. Tonight, it'll be the Dallas Mavericks at home, a team they have already taken out twice this year, with the New Orleans Pelicans following shortly after that.
For now, check out the rankings, and let's hear what you think.
Average Ranking: 11.125 (Last week: 12.875)
No. 10 (Last Week: 13): Jason Patt, SB Nation
Kevin Love is just silly good right now. Like, absurdly good. Since missing a game against the Heat due to personal reasons, Love has notched at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in nine of 10 games. In the one game he didn't grab 10 boards, he had 30 points and nine rebounds. Unreal stuff.
No. 10 (Last Week: 11): Marc Stein, ESPN
The Wolves have scored at least 120 points in three wins this month -- which is a franchise first -- and nearly did it again with 117 in a rout at Milwaukee. So we repeat: If you ranked teams purely on nightly point differential, Minnesota would be seventh in the whole league at +4.2.
No. 12 (Last Week: 13): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports
Kevin Love has an NBA-best 27 double-doubles so far and is averaging 29.5 points and 13.9 rebounds in December.
No. 11 (Last Week: 14): Matt Moore, CBS Sports
They woke up one morning and their mojo was under the Christmas tree. This is more like what we expected from them this season.
No. 12 (Last Week: 13): USA Today Writers' Poll
They shoot 42.8% from the field. Their opponents shoot 47.3% from the field. They still are in the playoff hunt.
No. 11 (Last Week: 13): Matt Dollinger, Sports Illustrated
The Wolves have been playing better, but it's tough to imagine them beating out the three teams in front of them in the standings -- the Mavericks, Warriors or Suns -- for a playoff spot. Minnesota appears stymied in the NBA's "Good, But Not Great" no-man's land.
No. 12 (Last Week: 13): David Aldridge, NBA.com
Wolves close to finally being at full strength, with Chase Budinger's and Ronny Turiaf's season debuts possible in the next couple of weeks. That should stabilize what has been a very inconsistent bench.
No. 12 (Last Week: 13): John Schuhmann, NBA.com
The Wolves have been one of the worst fourth-quarter teams in the league this season. They've won the period in just 10 of their 30 games and their fourth-quarter shooting numbers are ugly. So it was good that they had double-digit leads entering the fourth in their two games last week. They play five of their next six at home, a stretch that includes big games against the Mavs, Pelicans and Suns.