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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Joe Smith was back on the court with
his friends from Minnesota, just in a different uniform.
|  | | Ben Wallace and the Pistons had no answer for Kevin Garnett, who finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. |
The Timberwolves treated their former teammate like a family
member before and after the game, but beat Smith's new club, the
Detroit Pistons, 99-90 Friday night.
"Once we got out there it was just like a normal game," said
Smith, who scored 16 points. "You kind of look at it, as much as
possible, like any other team that you're going against."
Kevin Garnett led Minnesota to its fifth win in six nights with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Minnesota guards Terrell
Brandon, Chauncey Billups and Anthony Peeler combined for 48
points.
Smith was greeted with handshakes and hugs from T-Wolves
players, then went out and scored seven points in the first five
minutes of the game.
He signed a one-year contract with the Pistons on Nov. 20 after
his contract with the Timberwolves was voided by the NBA in October
because of a secret agreement that violated the salary cap.
The NBA fined the Timberwolves $3.5 million and took away five
first-round draft picks as punishment for the Smith deal. One of
the picks was reinstated after Minnesota owner Glen Taylor and VP
Kevin McHale agreed to stay away from the team until the summer.
"He looks good and it looks like he's fitting in with the
guys," Garnett said of Smith.
Smith, who entered the game averaging 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 22.9 minutes a game, said he's happy in Detroit.
"The transition has been easy," Smith said. "The guys have
made it as smooth as possible. It's just a matter of time before I
get really comfortable out on the floor."
He wears a black wristband on his elbow with "2" stitched on
it in memory of former Minnesota teammate Malik Sealy, who died in
a car accident in May.
Jerry Stackhouse paced the Pistons with 29 points.
The Pistons led for most of the first half and were ahead by as
much as nine on several occasions.
But Minnesota opened the second half with eight straight points
to take a 51-47 lead and the momentum for good. The Pistons briefly
regained the lead in the third quarter, before Minnesota responded
with an 11-3 run to take a 75-68 lead.
"They just outplayed us in the second half," Detroit coach
George Irvine said. "They beat us on the boards, they stopped our
break because we couldn't get a rebound."
Minnesota outrebounded Detroit 28-14 in the second half.
"We've been getting killed on the boards on this road trip,"
Garnett said. "We made a conscious effort to go out in the second
half and focus on rebounding."
Game notes
The Timberwolves have won five of their last six games. ...
It was "Big Hair, No Hair Night" at the Palace. Anyone who met
either description could buy a ticket for $5. Anyone willing to let
their head be shaved could get in for free.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 103
Indiana 95
Dallas 112
Philadelphia 94
Charlotte 103
Washington 89
Sacramento 104
Boston 81
Utah 89
New York 58
Minnesota 99
Detroit 90
Atlanta 85
Chicago 74
Milwaukee 104
Toronto 97
LA Clippers 98
Phoenix 88
Portland 106
Orlando 96
Seattle 99
Miami 81
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 76
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Jerry Stackhouse Official Site
Kevin Garnett Official Site
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