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Friday, Jan. 12 8:00pm ET
T-Wolves outgun Clippers down the stretch

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves rely heavily on their jump shooting. Friday night was a perfect example.

Kevin Garnett had 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Minnesota made 20 of its final 30 shots to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 95-89.

"You are what you are," said coach Flip Saunders. "You're going to live, you're going to die by it. But you have to play to your strengths.

"You have two choices. You can either be a team that moves the basketball around and gets jump shots, or you can be a team that isolates down underneath. We don't have the presence underneath. So the difference to us is a matter of getting open jump shots to live and die by."

The Timberwolves, who are 16-1 when outshooting their opponent, showed off their strength in the third quarter.

Anthony Peeler scored 12 of his 14 points during a 23-7 run that put Minnesota up 70-65. The Wolves were 10-for-10 from the floor during that stretch after going 9-for-30 over the second quarter and the first half of the third. "Peeler changed the whole game," said Clippers coach Alvin Gentry. "He made some big shots. They all made some tough shots."

Garnett said an 11-point deficit to the Clippers wasn't reason to panic.

"The philosophy on this being a team you should beat is out the window," he said. "They're not a shabby team. It was not pushing the panic button, but the urgency button. It was like, yo, we gotta pick it up."

Chauncey Billups, who finished with 13 points, helped stave off a Clippers comeback in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles led 75-73 with 8:52 left before Billups hit his first of three 3-pointers in the final period to put Minnesota ahead for good. The Clippers pulled within two with 2:41 left, but Billups hit another 3-pointer to make it 87-82. Los Angeles never threatened again.

"Billups' (first) shot was probably the biggest of the game," Gentry said. "When you have a team with that many good shooters, you know eventually they'll start going in."

Terrell Brandon had 17 points, and Wally Szczerbiak added 16 for Minnesota.

Lamar Odom led the Clippers with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

The Clippers, who entered the game with a league-leading averaging of 17 turnovers per game, took care of the ball but were unable to stifle the Wolves' hot shooting when they needed to.

"They basically hit every shot," Odom said. "We're starting to learn how to stay in games. This is the education part."

Michael Olowokandi was effective underneath, scoring 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Darius Miles chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers.

Game notes
Szczerbiak said he won't play in the Schick Rookie Challenge game, held the day before the All-Star game in Washington between the league's top first- and second-year players. That's fine with coach Flip Saunders. "He understands what's important. He needs some rest and rejuvenation for the second half," Saunders said. Szczerbiak had knee surgery in the offseason. ... The Clippers' Lamar Odom will play on the sophomore team against teammates Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, who will be with the rookies. ... Los Angeles has nine players averaging between six and nine points per game.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

LA Clippers Clubhouse

Minnesota Clubhouse

RECAPS
Philadelphia 86
Washington 82

Toronto 93
Boston 72

San Antonio 111
Detroit 90

Minnesota 95
LA Clippers 89

Charlotte 86
Chicago 85

Denver 106
Sacramento 93

Seattle 115
Vancouver 102

LA Lakers 101
Cleveland 98

FROM
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Kevin Garnett Official Site


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