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Sunday, Jan. 7 8:00pm ET
Wolves all bite in rout of Suns

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves did more than survive an off night by Kevin Garnett. They thrived, thanks to Anthony Peeler and Terrell Brandon.

Peeler had a season-high 28 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, and Brandon had 19 points and six steals as the Timberwolves spoiled Penny Hardaway's return to the Suns lineup with a 108-88 rout Sunday night.

Anfernee Hardaway
Anfernee Hardaway had nine points, three rebounds and three assists in his first game since knee surgery last May.

Minnesota shot 52 percent, a season-high for Phoenix opponents, to break a four-game road losing streak. It was the Timberwolves' first win in Phoenix in five games.

"I don't know what other than we absolutely did not show up," Suns coach Scott Skiles said. "When we look at the videotape tomorrow, if anybody can look at that and say they played hard, they're kidding themselves."

Garnett, who almost always struggles against the defense of the Suns' Cliff Robinson, barely kept his string of double-digit scoring games alive at 245 with 11 points.

Garnett was 5-for-17 from the field. His last basket, a 22-footer, came with 2:13 to play, then he left the game. He did have seven assists and nine rebounds.

"He got everybody else involved," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "Peeler had a great game and I think this was the best game I've seen Terrell play. He was so active."

Brandon said that good teammates pick up the slack when the star has an off night.

"If someone's struggle, then someone else has his back," Brandon said. "You know I've struggled, and I hope someone's got my back."

The Timberwolves are 7-0 when Peeler starts.

"I just try to go out there and raise the energy no matter what," Peeler said, "and when I start, it seems like I just bring it a little bit earlier."

The Suns' second-year forward Shawn Marion went down with an injured right knee with 8:11 to play and had to be helped to the locker room. Doctors said the initial exam showed no ligament damage, but Marion was to undergo an MRI exam Monday.

Hardaway, who had missed the first 31 games while recovering from surgery on his right knee, was 4-for-10 shooting for nine points with three rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes.

"I don't think they expected a lot from me, but I expected a lot from myself," Hardaway said. "When I got out there I was more fatigued than I thought I'd be. ... I look down there and see I played 24 minutes and it felt like 70."

Jason Kidd scored 20 points for Phoenix but committed 10 turnovers. Tony Delk scored 17. Rookie Jake Tsakalidis has his second consecutive 10-point game and had eight rebounds.

Minnesota led 48-40 at halftime, then blew the game open in the third quarter.

Wally Szczerbiak's basket on a goaltending call capped a 20-4 run that put the Timberwolves ahead 78-55 with 1:17 left in the quarter. Minnesota outscored Phoenix 35-21 in the third quarter to lead 83-61.

The Suns got no closer than 14 in the fourth.

Garnett, who shot just 33 percent from the field and averaged 14.3 points against the Suns last season, was 1-for-9 in the first half.

But the Timberwolves, with Anthony Peeler scoring 19, still led 48-40 at the break.

Peeler scored 11 in a 17-7 run that put Minnesota up 48-37 with 31.8 seconds left in the half.

Game notes
Hardaway made his first shot, a short jumper on a drive into the lane. ... The Suns are 32-13 with Kidd and Hardaway in the lineup. ... Minnesota activated former Suns player Todd Day and placed Sam Jacobson on the injured list (patella tendinitis in his right knee). ... The two U.S. Olympians on the floor had a rough first quarter -- Garnett was 1-for-8 and Kidd committed four turnovers. ... Minnesota's backcourt of Peeler and Brandon outscored the Suns' duo of Kidd and Hardaway 47-29.
ALSO SEE
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Suns' Hardaway says charge 'likely will be dropped


RECAPS
Toronto 94
Seattle 92

Vancouver 120
Milwaukee 117

New York 103
Washington 87

Minnesota 108
Phoenix 88

Denver 94
Charlotte 87

LA Clippers 118
LA Lakers 95

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 Minnesota's Kevin Garnett gets stuck as he drives to the hoop.
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