Wolves record: 13-41

Detroit’s Jason Maxiell inadvertently elbowed Love in the mouth midway through the second quarter, a blow that briefly sent Love to the locker room to have his braces untwined from his inner lower lip.

All that produced was a loose tooth, some blood and some swelling.

The Wolves’ third consecutive loss delivered damage felt rather than seen.

Tied at halftime in their first game back after a four-day All Star break, the Wolves were outscored 33-13 in a third quarter when coach Kurt Rambis quickly attempted bench substitutions with little effect.

Kevin Love had 22 points and 15 rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves but their starters played like they were still on vacation. Head coach Kurt Rambis pulled guards Jonny Flynn and Corey Brewer and leading scorer Al Jefferson early in the third quarter in a desperate attempt to find more defensive intensity.

Rambis’ adjustments didn’t work and the starting five contributed just 40 points and 10 rebounds.

“We were awful,” Rambis said. “Our defense was awful. Our energy level was awful. Our ball movement was awful and our execution was awful.”