Tournament favourite Algeria faces a tricky challenge at

DALLAS -- Ricky Rubio hasnt given up on the idea of Minnesota making the playoffs. The case is a little easier to make after the Timberwolves avoided what would have been a disastrous loss in Dallas. Rubio had a triple-double, Kevin Love scored the last of his 35 points with the go-ahead basket late in overtime, and the Timberwolves hung on for a 123-122 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night after blowing several leads. Minnesota broke a six-game stretch of alternating wins and losses with a second straight victory to move two games over .500 for the first time since Nov. 23. The Timberwolves (34-32) are still 5 1/2 games behind Dallas and Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 16 games to go. But at least they didnt lose after squandering a 22-point lead in the first half and a 13-point edge with 7 minutes to go. "It was a big game against a tough team who is fighting for the playoffs, too," said Rubio, who had 22 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds for his third career triple-double. "We want to try to catch up to them." Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 for Dallas and put the Mavericks ahead with a fadeaway over Love with 33 seconds left in overtime before Love scored on a jump hook with 17 seconds to go. Nowitzki missed on another try over Love in the final seconds as the Mavericks saw a three-game winning streak end and missed a chance to move a season-high 15 games over .500. "This is a tough one," said Nowitzki, who had his second straight tough shooting night at 11 of 27. "This feels like a playoff loss. It really does. I dont even know what to say." Monta Ellis scored the last 12 Dallas points of regulation on a three-point play and three consecutive 3-pointers, the last one giving the Mavericks their first lead since early in the first quarter at 113-111. Rubio answered with a pair of free throws for the tie with 50 seconds left. Nowitzki missed a 3-pointer to finish his 0-for-5 shooting in the fourth quarter, but Kevin Martin missed from just inside the arc and Robbie Hummel missed from just outside it for Minnesota. Dallas Devin Harris was short on a mid-court heave at the buzzer in regulation. "We knew they were going to go on a run," said Love, who was 11 of 20 from the field and 11 of 14 from the line. "We will take the win, whether it is in regulation or overtime." Nowitzki hit his first shot of overtime from the baseline and added a 3-pointer for a 120-115 lead, but the Timberwolves went back in front by a point on a reverse layup from Rubio and four free throws from Love. All five Minnesota starters were in double figures. Martin scored 19, Corey Brewer had 11 of his 13 points during Minnesotas fast start in the first quarter and Gorgui Dieng had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Former Dallas guard J.J. Barea had 15 points. Ellis finished with 22 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Shawn Marion had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Sam Dalembert had 14 boards. Early in the game, the Dallas defence didnt look anything like a unit that had held consecutive teams to less than 40-per cent shooting. Minnesota was at 69 per cent after Dieng hit a hook shot to give the Timberwolves their biggest lead at 50-28 early in the second quarter. The Mavericks had six of their 16 turnovers in the first quarter, and several led to breakaway baskets for Brewer. "They were aggressive. We were sloppy," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "The first quarter was really the biggest factor in the game." The Mavericks forced four straight misses to spark a 24-5 run that got them back in the game. Nowitzki opened the spurt with a jumper, and Jae Crowder finished it with a dunk after a steal by Jose Calderon to make it 55-52. NOTES: Rubio had seven assists in the first quarter, one more than Dallas as a team. Minnesota had 12 for the quarter. ... Ellis was called for a technical after getting his fourth foul in the third quarter. Referee Monty McCutchen screamed at Ellis that he had been warned four times as Ellis walked to the Dallas bench. Khris Davis Jersey . -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jed Lowrie Jersey . Watch the announcement live on TSN.ca at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. This years honourees will be recognized at the 2014 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, scheduled for June 23-24 in Vancouver. http://www.athleticsrookiestore.com/Athletics-Catfish-Hunter-Kids-Jersey/ . The club announced on Wednesday that Malhotra signed a 25-game professional tryout contract. The 33-year-old suffered a serious eye injury when struck by a puck during a game versus Colorado in March of 2011. Tony Phillips Jersey . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack. Matt Joyce Jersey .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.EBEBIYIN, Equatorial Guinea - Tournament favourite Algeria faces a tricky challenge at the start of its African Cup of Nations campaign against an up-and-coming South Africa in the heat and humidity of the jungle in eastern Equatorial Guinea on Monday.The Algerians are tipped by many as the team with the best chance of winning the title after their impressive World Cup performance in Brazil last year. But the unpredictable African Cup is a different proposition to FIFAs slick showpiece tournament, even more so for Algeria after it was drawn to play in Mongomo, one of two small and remote host towns in Equatorial Guineas far east.Also, coach Christian Gourcuffs Algeria is pitted against tough West African opposition in Ghana and Senegal as well as the South Africans in Group C, probably the hardest group.We mustnt be complacent, midfielder Medhi Lacen said. We have a team of great quality, great players, but we must remember the African Cup is not the World Cup. Its much more physical and we have to be ready for that.Algeria is based way out on the Gabonese border. Its many Europe-based players, just out of winter there, face heat, dripping humidity and other logistical challenges — like an hour-plus drive to their training base in Oyala, a city being built in the middle of the rainforest and planned as the future capital city of Equatorial Guinea.ddddddddddddIts going to be difficult for sure, Riyad Mahrez said of the group stage.South Africa — the host of the last Cup of Nations — has come through a qualifying campaign for the first time since 2008, and is rejuvenated under new coach Ephraim Mashaba.The squad that we have now has got fire in their eyes and the energy they have is unbelievable, defender Anele Ngcongca said. We are all looking forward to this tournament and I think we can surprise a lot of teams.Group Cs other two teams also have lots to prove.Ghana had a disastrous World Cup last year, failing to win a game as a wrangle between players and officials over team bonuses destroyed squad morale. And Senegal failed to qualify for the African Cup two years ago, and got knocked out in the first-round the time before that.Ghana and Senegal open the group at the little-known Mongomo Stadium on Monday before Algeria plays South Africa.The remote conditions have already affected Ghanas buildup, with captain Asamoah Gyan diagnosed with mild malaria on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said. The striker has been released from the hospital in Mongomo and is being monitored by doctors, but is doubtful to face Senegal. 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