MONTREAL - The NBA continued a popular recent tradition by hosting a preseason game at the Bell Centre and once again local basketball fans responded by coming out in big numbers Sunday.

A reported 20,152 fans showed up to watch Kevin Love score 22 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-89 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Kevin Martin also scored 21 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves (3-2), while Ricky Rubio led the team with seven assists.

Gerald Wallace led Boston with 16 points and three assists for the Celtics (1-6).

An NBA preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks attracted over 21,000 fans in Montreal in October 2010, while a rematch between the same two teams last October - during the NHL hockey strike - sold an impressive 22,114 tickets, including $511 courtside seats.

The T-Wolves begin their regular season on October 30 against the Orlando Magic while the Celtics kick off the same nights in Toronto against the Raptors