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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- P.J. Brown knows he didn't shut down Kevin
Garnett.
But because he didn't need much help defending Garnett, the Charlotte Hornets were able to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 83-74 Friday night and stretch their winning streak to five games.
Garnett scored 20 points, but the Timberwolves were held to just one 3-pointer. The Hornets' David Wesley credited Brown with that.
"For the most part, we've put (Brown) on their best big man,
because he does a good job, a great job," Wesley said. "Most
teams have to double-team Garnett. Then they go swing, swing,
3-pointer. We didn't have to do that."
Brown, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds, wasn't taking much credit.
"I just try not to let him have one of those monster nights,"
Brown said. "It's hard. You try to stay out of foul trouble, but
it's a fine line as to how you can play him. I'm not going to stop
him. I just try to contain him."
Wesley led the Hornets with 25 points and held the Wolves'
Terrell Brandon to 14 points. Brandon made 6 of 17 shots.
"You don't want Brandon to get it going," Wesley said. "And
he didn't."
The Hornets, who spent their third day in first place in the
Central Division, held the Timberwolves to 38.5 percent shooting.
They went into the game holding opponents to 40.6-percent shooting,
best in the NBA.
"If our offensive game was at the level of our defensive
game," Brown said, "we'd be real hard to beat right now."
The Hornets boosted a 38-37 halftime lead to 54-44 with 5:20
remaining in the third quarter. The Wolves tied the score twice in
the fourth quarter, the last time when Wally Szczerbiak hit a
jumper with 2:51 remaining to make it 72-72.
Wesley drove for a basket with 1:38 remaining to give the
Hornets the lead for good. After Brandon missed a jumper, Jamal
Mashburn beat the Wolves defense and was fouled by Ellis on a layup
attempt. Mashburn made both free throws.
The Hornets pulled away in the final minute on a 3-pointer by
Mashburn and a steal and layup by Wesley.
The Wolves lost their third in a row.
"We just have to stay strong and stay together," Garnett said. "When you're losing, it's easy to go each other's way. When you're losing, you have to stay together and focus as a team."
Game notes
The Hornets placed forward Eddie Robinson on the injured
list because of a bruised hip. ... Wesley scored in double figures
for the 20th game in a row. ... Coach Flip Saunders put the
Timberwolves through a full practice Friday morning for the first
time this season on a game day, hoping to get a better defensive
effort. The Wolves gave up more than 100 points in each of their
previous three games. ... The Wolves' game against Utah on Saturday
night will the 1,000th in franchise history, including preseason
and playoff games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Utah 109
Indiana 101
New York 91
Philadelphia 71
Atlanta 78
Toronto 72
Miami 103
Cleveland 95
LA Lakers 108
Dallas 103
Charlotte 83
Minnesota 74
San Antonio 105
Golden State 87
Denver 116
Portland 96
Seattle 107
Washington 87
Sacramento 95
Vancouver 93
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
Baron Davis Official Site
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