MINNEAPOLIS -- Nemanja Bjelica could not believe the pass got through, though he should know better by now.

Ricky Rubio threw a half-court bounce pass in transition in the first quarter, which split two Washington Wizards defenders and landed in the hands of Bjelica, who was running to the rim, for an easy layup.

“I almost turned the ball over the pass was (so) unbelievable,” said Bjelica, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. “You just need to follow (Rubio), and that’s it. He’s one of the best in the league.”

That was probably the finest of Rubio’s franchise-record 19 assists in Minnesota’s 119-104 win over Washington on Monday night, March 13, at Target Center.

He also scored 22 points, eclipsing the 20-point mark for the second time in as many games. It’s the first time he’s had such a two-game scoring stretch in four years. Said Timberwolves’ forward Karl-Anthony Towns, “He almost single-handedly won us this game tonight.”

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“We just picked up with any pieces he could give us,” Towns said. “It felt like mostly the puzzle was already done, with the way he played.”

The 19 assists broke the previous record of 17, a mark Rubio had reached five previous times in his career. Over his last 15 games, Rubio is averaging 13.1 points and 11.3 assists per game. The Wolves are 9-6 in that stretch.

“The best thing about it is the winning,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “The impact that he’s having on winning.”

Rubio wowed early, finishing the first quarter with nine points and 10 assists – the most assists in one quarter by any player in the league this season, which set the tone as the Wolves (28-38) jumped out to a 41-23 lead.

Rubio said passers can get in zones much like shooters experience during hot streaks. That’s easier to believe after Monday’s performance.

“Some nights you see things a little different and it gets easier,” Rubio said. “Tonight in the first quarter I really saw different things out there. I was trying to set the tempo from the beginning and being aggressive.”

But he made plays late, too. With the lead whittled to 102-96 with less than five minutes to play, it was Rubio who took a charge against John Wall in transition.

In the final two minutes, with the Wolves up 110-101, Rubio chased down an offensive rebound, milked the clock then finished at the rim to stretch Minnesota's lead to 11 and essentially ice the game.

Washington called timeout with Minnesota up 13 and less than a minute to play. Before Rubio walked to the bench, he walked over toward one side of the crowd and threw his arms in the air.

Rubio capped the performance with his 19th and final assist, hitting a rolling Karl-Anthony Towns for the bucket and the foul with less than 40 seconds to play.

"Sometimes I don't even know (what I see," Rubio said on the court after the game. "Guys are doing a pretty good job moving off the ball. I'm trying to find them to get easy buckets and doing my job."

As Towns was at the line, Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau subbed out Rubio. As he walked to the bench, he received a standing ovation from the crowd.

“I’m in my sixth year here and haven’t felt that since my rookie year,” Rubio said. “The fans have been great, but right now they are awesome. We are giving them a reason to come here and cheer for us.”

The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a media partner with Forum News Service