RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak were on
the same side this time.
|  | | Kevin Garnett scores two of his 24 points the easy way. |
A day after Garnett had to be physically restrained from Szczerbiak in a post-practice confrontation, both players helped Minnesota survive a 16-0 fourth-quarter run by Golden State as the Timberwolves handed the Warriors their seventh straight loss, 92-90.
Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Szczerbiak had 12
points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Perhaps more pertinent,
though, was Szczerbiak's rejection of Mookie Blaylock's potential game-tying jumper. The offense-oriented forward has taken some criticism for his defense.
"If he wants to, he can be the greatest defensive player in the game," Garnett said. "Without his stop (at the end of the game), I don't know where we'd be."
On Tuesday, Szczerbiak and Garnett clashed during practice over a comment Garnett made about Szczerbiak's defense. About an hour after practice was over, Garnett confronted Szczerbiak in the training room.
Garnett downplayed the dispute after the game, insisting there was no animosity or awkwardness between the two on the court.
"I didn't really keep track of how many high fives I gave Wally
tonight, guys," Garnett said. "When it comes down to it, we both
have to play together. That's my teammate."
Minnesota nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter. Up 89-72 with
3:58 to play, the Wolves let Golden State pull to within 89-88
after Antawn Jamison's three-point play. Chauncey Billups and
Jamison each made a pair of free throws before Garnett made one of
two with 6.7 seconds left. Then Blaylock was denied by Szczerbiak.
"They did a heck of a job denying him the basket," said Warriors coach Dave Cowens.
Minnesota committed a season-high 23 turnovers, seven of which
turned into 12 Golden State points in the final period.
"That was uncharacteristic for us," said Wolves head coach Flip Saunders. "We don't turn the ball over. It was unfortunate we had to put ourselves in that position. We did some poor things."
Cowens thought the Wolves had prematurely assumed they won the
game.
"They were kind of falling asleep and already getting soft and
happy with it," Cowens said. "They were getting cocky and cute.
Shame on them."
The Timberwolves exacted some revenge on Golden State for a
defeat last Dec. 11 in which the Warriors rallied from a 20-point
first-half deficit to thump Minnesota 104-76. In that game, the
Timberwolves managed a franchise-worst seven points in the third
quarter.
This time, Minnesota ended the third quarter with a 15-2 run to
take a 73-64 into the fourth.
Foul shots, surprisingly, played a part in the Wolves'
third-period surge. Minnesota, which entered the game last in the
league in free-throw attempts (18.7), went to the line just twice
in the first half. But the Wolves were 6-for-8 in the decisive
third period.
Anthony Peeler added 22 points for Minnesota, and Billups had 18.
Larry Hughes led the Warriors with 22 points and eight rebounds,
and Erick Dampier grabbed 16 rebounds. Mookie Blaylock had 19
points, Chris Mullin 16 and Jamison and Dampier 15 each.
Game notes
Minnesota has won 13 of its last 16 games with Golden
State, including eight of its last nine at the Target Center. ...
Wolves point guard Terrell Brandon missed his second straight game
with an ankle injury. ... Warriors forward Danny Fortson, the NBA's
leading rebounder, was placed on the injured list Wednesday because
of a sore right foot. Fortson is averaging 16.3 rebounds per game.
... The Warriors are the only team to beat Phoenix this season, but
that was Golden State's lone victory, on opening night. ... The
game attracted an announced crowd of 16,034. It was the first time
the Wolves had played at the same time as the NHL expansion
Minnesota Wild.
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NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
Garnett, Szczerbiak square off after T-Wolves practice
RECAPS
Boston 116
Washington 109
Philadelphia 107
Cleveland 98
Indiana 92
Detroit 88
Milwaukee 84
Atlanta 74
Minnesota 92
Golden State 90
New Jersey 93
Miami 91
Phoenix 99
Dallas 78
LA Clippers 78
New York 74
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kevin Garnett finds Wally Szczerbiak open on the break.
avi: 857 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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