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MINNEAPOLIS - Its been a slog at times for Arron Afflalo in his second tour with the Denver Nuggets as he tries to re-acclimate himself to a team in flux.Little by little, its all coming back to him. Just ask the Minnesota Timberwolves.Afflalo scored 34 points and the Nuggets handed the Timberwolves their 12th straight loss with a 110-101 victory on Monday night.J.J. Hickson had 16 points and 11 rebounds and the Nuggets shot 55 per cent to cruise past the Timberwolves. Jusuf Nurkic scored 14 points and Ty Lawson added 12 assists for the Nuggets, whose reserves outscored Minnesotas 47-10.If the Nuggets (15-20) are going to turn things around after a terrible start, Afflalo will likely be a catalyst. Hes averaged 25.3 points on 61 per cent shooting over the last three games.When you go through struggles, which I was going through, I really tried to find myself and find what makes me a better player, a more effective player, Afflalo said. I think Im starting to notice it over the last two or three games, how to be efficient and effective.Gorgui Dieng tied a career high with 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Shabazz Muhammad added 19 points and six boards for the Wolves (5-28), who are now tied with Philadelphia and New York for fewest wins in the league. The Timberwolves shot just 43 per cent and have not won since Dec. 10 while playing without Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin.Weve just got to dig through these dog days, said Wolves assistant Sam Mitchell, who filled in when Flip Saunders couldnt make it to the arena because of an illness.Nuggets coach Brian Shaw recently switched up the teams game-day schedule, eliminating the time-honoured morning shootaround in favour of a light workout later in the afternoon. Shaw believes starting later in the day gives his players more continuous sleep and has them operating when their bodies are used to exerting their most effort.The approach was successful on Saturday when the Nuggets thumped the Grizzlies 114-85 and Shaw said before the game on Monday the plan was to employ it the rest of the season to get a large sample size and make a determination going forward about the long-term future.The Nuggets looked energetic and well-rested again Monday night, though playing against the woeful Timberwolves might have had something to do with it. They outscored the Wolves 19-10 in transition and 56-38 in the paint.The Wolves allowed the Nuggets to shoot 61 per cent in the first half. They turned the ball over eight times and were outscored 13-3 in transition and trailed by 24 points midway through the second quarter.The veteran Afflalo took it to No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins, making him work for his 20 points on 8-for-18 shooting while Afflalo was 11 for 18 — including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.I think I couldve done better, a lot better, Wiggins said. I dont think it was one of my best defensive performances.TIP-INSNuggets: Nate Robinson, who was questionable with a sprained right wrist, scored 12 points in 21 minutes. ... After scoring 26 points and grabbing 25 rebounds in a win over the Wolves in Denver at the end of December, Kenneth Faried had 15 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.Timberwolves: Wiggins was named Western Conference rookie of the month for December. Hes won the award in each of the first two months of the season. ... F Chase Budinger missed his second straight game because he was sick and F Robbie Hummel was also out with the same bug.LINEUP SHUFFLEThe Timberwolves tried to change things up by putting veteran Mo Williams in the starting lineup at point guard and moving rookie Zach LaVine to the bench. But it was just more of the same for a struggling group that cant defend, cant hit a 3-point shot consistently and cant stay healthy.Williams scored 17 points in 25 minutes. LaVine managed just five on 2-for-9 shooting in 26 minutes.UP NEXTNuggets: Host Orlando on Wednesday.Timberwolves: Host Phoenix on Wednesday. Scott Stevens Devils Jersey . "I honestly dont know," he said. Try this: 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds by Rajon Rondo, a 62-37 rebounding advantage by the Celtics and a horrible 4-for-30 shooting performance on 3-pointers by the Nets. 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Levante, which had lost five straight including a Copa del Rey game last weekend, fell behind at its Ciutat de Valencia stadium when Ionut Sapanura opened the scoring for Elche in the 26th minute.MILAN, Italy -- Carloz Tevez struck again to help Juventus beat Torino 1-0 in the Turin derby on Sunday as Antonio Contes side maintained its charge to a third straight Serie A title. Tevez scored on the half hour mark, although Torino will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a late penalty when Omar El Kaddouri appeared to be tripped by Andrea Pirlo. "It was a penalty on El Kaddouri," Torino coach Giampiero Ventura said. "Its disappointing because if (referee Nicola) Rizzoli had seen the penalty maybe we would have witnessed a different game. If we had drawn today it would have been a fair result." It was Tevezs 13th goal of the season and sees him move level with Giuseppe Rossi at the top of the goalscoring table. The Fiorentina striker was injured at the beginning of January and is out for the rest of the season. Juventus moved nine points ahead of second-placed Roma, which has a game in hand. "It wasnt easy," Conte said. "But we conceded very little to Torino. There was contact but fortunately the referee chose well. "We were calmer last year. Behind us we have a team like Roma, which is more dangerous that Napoli was last year. They dont make mistakes, they have enthusiasm and desire." In the race for the final Europa League spot, Torino slipped four points below fifth-placed Inter Milan which could only draw 1-1 at home to relegation-threatened Cagliari. Hellas Verona almost squandered a three-goal lead but held on to win 3-2 at struggling Livorno and moved a point behind Inter. Luca Toni scored his 12th of the season for Verona. Elsewhere, AC Milan recovered from its disappointing Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid by winning 2-0 at Sampdoria, which had former Rossoneri striker Maxi Lopez sent off. New signings Adel Taarabt and Adil Rami both scored their second Milan goals. Also, Chievo Verona beat Catania 2-0 in a relegation fight and Udinese drew 1-1 against Atalanta. In the evening match, bottom club Sassuolo levelled twice -- including one equalizer by former Lazio striker Sergio Floccari -- but lost 3-2 at Lazio. Stefano Radu struck twice for Lazio, including a stunning opener off the inside of the post from more than 30 metres (yards). Juventus had won all 12 of its home league matches this season and hadnt lost in the derby since 1995 -- a run of 15 matches.dddddddddddd Play had to be halted when Ciro Immobile -- who is co-owned by Juventus and has already scored 13 goals this season -- broke the goal with a fierce shot into the sidenetting which pulled the net off its support. Juventus took the lead after 30 minutes when Tevez controlled Kwadwo Asamoahs cross with his back to goal and swiveled to fire an unstoppable effort into the near bottom corner. There was controversy 10 minutes from time as El Kaddouri appealed furiously for a penalty but the referee instead booked the on-loan Napoli midfielder for diving. Replays appeared to prove El Kaddouri right but his dramatic fall may have cost him. Cagliari had lost five of its past six matches but took a surprise lead four minutes from halftime, Mauricio Pinilla converted a penalty after Victor Ibarbos shot was deflected off Walter Samuel and onto Juan Jesus arm. Inter levelled seven minutes after the break when Yuto Nagatomo crossed to the far post where Mauro Icardi headed on for Rolando to bundle in from close range. Inter almost snatched all three points but Icardis header crashed off the crossbar in the final minute. Milans chances of a European spot were reignited after another solid performance moved it five points behind Inter. Milan had put on by far its best display of the season in the 1-0 defeat to Atletico in the first leg of its Champions League tie but had a massive injury list which included Mario Balotelli. However, it continued from where it left off on Wednesday and took the lead in the 12th minute. Taarabts header from Ramis cross was parried by Angelo Da Costa at point-blank range but the on-loan Queens Park Rangers midfielder turned in the rebound. The Morocco international was involved in the controversial second goal, crossing for Rami to head home after Da Costa had fumbled. Sampdoria players were furious as they felt Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini had crashed into their goalkeeper. Substitute Maxi Lopez was sent off in the 72nd, receiving a second yellow card for comments to the referee immediately after being booked. Chievo moved out of the relegation zone with its first win in 10 matches and is a point above Livorno and two ahead of Catania. ' ' '