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MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Love had just finished carrying his Minnesota Timberwolves over .500 for the first time since Nov. 23, playing the entire second half and over 43 minutes to make it happen. So naturally, he hit the weight room after the game. Without his Bruise Brother Nikola Pekovic by his side for at least another week, Love knows hes going to be tested like he rarely has before. Love had 30 points and 14 rebounds to help the Timberwolves grind out an 88-77 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. "I was a little upset with myself with some of the shots I took that I felt like I couldve made," said Love was of 11 of 26 and 1 for 6 on 3-pointers. "The ball didnt feel great tonight. Thats the way it goes sometimes. If I can do that and we can win without Pek, thats a good sign." Kevin Martin added 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting and six boards for the Timberwolves (23-22) in their first game without Pekovic, who is expected to miss at least a week with bursitis in his right ankle. They still managed to get over .500 after failing in their previous 10 chances to do so. Al-Farouq Aminu had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans, who were missing star forward Anthony Davis with a dislocated left index finger. They shot 35 per cent and managed a season-low 35 points in the first half to snap a three-game winning streak. Davis was injured in the victory over the Cavaliers on Tuesday night, but coach Monty Williams said he was playing it safe with his franchise player and expected him to return on Saturday against Chicago. "He can knock down the mid-range shot down so a lot of their bigs were in the paint just helping and we had to go up against a big every time," said Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans, who had 11 points on 4-for-15 shooting. "So it was pretty tough." In an ugly game for both teams, the Pelicans managed to hang around and trailed by five heading into the fourth. But Love, who played the entire second half, scored six straight points during an 8-0 burst to open the quarter and help the Wolves win for the fifth time in six games. "With Pek out, we really have to find a way to relieve the pressure off (Love), move him around and stuff," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "We know teams are going to come at him. ... So we have to find ways to figure it out." Both teams looked lost without their lynch pins in the paint in the first half. The Pelicans, who also are missing Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson, hovered around 25 per cent shooting for most of the first quarter and were still at 30 per cent late into the third quarter against a Wolves defence that has been among the worst in the league from a field goal percentage basis. Without Pekovic commanding double teams and bulling his way to the basket, the Wolves have had to focus more on the defensive end. That left Love to go to work on the offensive end, and he was more aggressive looking for his shot than he has been with the big fella next to him in the frontcourt. In his first game at home since he was voted in as an All-Star starter for the Western Conference, Love came out firing, taking nine shots and attacking the glass. And when point guard Ricky Rubio went to the bench early in the third quarter with four fouls, Love started distributing more, picking up five assists to help the Wolves push back against the plucky Pelicans. "I know some of our guys are a bit overwhelmed with trying to play at a high level, but we had our chances," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "This is when you have to step up and we just didnt do it tonight. That happens." NOTES: Eric Gordon scored 14 on 5 for 17 shooting for New Orleans. ... Before the game started, Love grabbed the mic and thanked the Wolves fans for voting him as a starter in the All-Star game. He posted his NBA-leading 27th game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. ... Greg Stiemsma started in place of Davis and finished with three points and 12 rebounds and has grabbed at least 10 boards in two straight games. Saucony Shoes From China . And by all indications, the team is expected to select phenom Connor McDavid with their selection. The Buffalo Sabres, who were knocked down to the second overall pick after finishing with the worst regular season record, are expected to take the other generational player in Jack Eichel. Saucony Shoes Clearance . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down. http://www.cheapsaucony.net/ . -- Orleans Darkwa ran in from 1 yard with 1:45 left, and the Miami Dolphins rallied from two scores down in the final minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-20 on Saturday night. Cheap Saucony Shoes China . But when it was all over they had wasted another lead, seen another pitcher flame out on the mound and lost their fourth straight at home. Saucony Outlet Online . -- League scoring leader Anthony Mantha had two goals and two assists to lead the Val-dOr Foreurs over the Blainville-Boisbriand Phoenix 6-3 on Wednesay in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play on Wednesday.The Canadian Soccer Association is sticking to its guns on the issue of artificial turf at the 2015 Womens World Cup.In a media conference call Wednesday, the CSA reiterated that it plans to play the tournament on a fantastic FIFA-approved surface. But it refused to say what surface it might attach to a possible mens World Cup hosting bid, saying the process of applying to host a future mens tournament is several years away.We have put up our hand seeking that we would intend to look at the process of putting a bid forward. Its very early days in that process, said Victor Montagliani, president of the Canadian Soccer Association.We dont even know what the parameters or the scope of that bid would need to look like from FIFA because they havent even sent out anything along those lines to any of the member associations.Montagliani estimated that was three years away.The CSA has said it plans to enter a formal bid for the 2026 Mens World Cup.The argument that there is a double standard for men and women when it comes to the World Cup playing surfaces is central to a complaint currently before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.A group of elite womens players contends that having the men play their showcase tournament on real grass and the women on artificial turf is discriminatory.The CSA, which serves as the national organizing committee for the 2015 Womens World Cup, argues that FIFA allows matches to be played on so-called 2-Star artificial turf, which the world governing body of soccer gives the green light for top clubs, stadiums and international match play.The core issue in terms of the claim thats being advanced is that FIFA 2-Star is somehow second-class, said lawyer Sean Hern, representing the CSA. And its not second-class. Its a first-class playing field.ddddddddddddAnd it is part of the Canadian game. Its been recognized as appropriate and this is going to be a fantastic playing surface and a fantastic tournament. There is no merit, in our view, in the suggestion that it is any way discriminatory.The visiting Czech Republic defeated Kazakhstan 4-2 in a Euro 2016 qualifying game this week on FIFA-approved artificial turf at the Astana Arena. And Montagliani noted Canada played Mexico in 2013 mens Gold Cup match on artificial turf in Seattles CenturyLink Field.But the mens World Cup has not been held on turf.Not yet, said Montagliani.He said it was clear from the beginning of the Canadian Womens World Cup bid that FIFA-approved artificial turf would be used.Montagliani said the budget for the tournament is $90 million. Lawyers for the women say their plan for temporary grass surfaces at stadiums in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton would cost $2 million to $3 million at most.Lawyers for the both sides also have different ideas of the Ontario tribunals jurisdiction.Lawyers for the women, who filed the complaint in Ontario because the CSA is headquartered in Ottawa, believe a ruling would be followed in other provinces. The CSAs legal team is not so sure.Thats a very good question and its one weve raised directly in our response to date, said Hern. Its unclear as to whether the Ontario tribunal has any jurisdiction over stadium use and playing surfaces in another province and we would say that it likely doesnt.The tribunal has yet to rule on the womens request for an expedited hearing. The CSA has argued against the request, saying they have not met the standard for fast-tracking the hearing.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '