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Tuesday, Jan. 23 8:00pm ET
Suns drop third straight without Kidd

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Maybe the Minnesota Timberwolves are a second-half team.

The Wolves held the Phoenix Suns to 38 points in the second half of an 82-73 victory Tuesday for their fourth straight victory. Once again, they are playing their best basketball going into the second half of the season.

The Suns' 73 points tied the second-lowest total in the organization's 33-year history. They were held to 68 points by the Kansas City Kings in 1981.

"We're a funny team," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said. "We've found that we are always a team that struggles until January, and then we pick it up and are more consistent. We've done that the last three years now."

Terrell Brandon led the Wolves with 26 points but was more eager to talk about his teammates' defensive effort. The Wolves held the Suns, who were playing their third game in a row without Jason Kidd, to 38.8 percent shooting.

Kevin Garnett, who has a history of tough nights against the Suns' Cliff Robinson, made only 6 of 17 shots while scoring 14 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. In return, he made life equally tough on Robinson.

Robinson made only 3 of 14 shots and finished with 6 points.

"Those two just battle every time they play against each other," Brandon said.

"K.G. can be the best shot-blocker in the league, because he has those Theo Ratliff-like arms," Timberwolves forward Wally Szczerbiak said. "He brings a lot even when he's not shooting well."

Saunders said the Wolves were impaired defensive because the first half of their season included 11 back-to-back games, which made preparation difficult.

"We're a preparation team," Saunders said. "We've always been that. You give us time to prepare, we're going to be pretty good."

The Suns, who trailed 57-52 going into the fourth quarter, tied the game at 67-67 on Rodney Rogers' 3-pointer with 5:19 remaining. The Timberwolves took the lead for good, 72-71, on a jump shot by Brandon with 3:19 left.

The loss was the Suns' third in a row without Kidd, who is skipping their six-game road trip to mend his relationship with his wife. Kidd was arrested last week on a misdemeanor assault charge accusing him of hitting her at their suburban Phoenix home. The Suns also were without Tom Gugliotta, who missed his third consecutive game because of a family emergency, and Anfernee Hardaway, who is on the injured list because of a knee injury.

The Suns were led by Shawn Marion, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

The Timberwolves were outscored 14-2 in the final six minutes of the first quarter, which ended with the Suns leading 21-13. That was the Wolves' fewest points in a first period this season.

Game notes
The Wolves' Chauncey Billups missed his third game because of a sprained ankle. ... The Wolves (25-18) improved to seven games over .500 for first time this season. ... Former Minnesota Twins baseball star Kirby Puckett was given a standing ovation in his first trip to the Target Center since being voted into baseball's Hall of Fame.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Phoenix Clubhouse

Minnesota Clubhouse


RECAPS
Boston 83
Atlanta 82

Washington 97
Charlotte 95

Orlando 116
Toronto 111

Philadelphia 114
Dallas 98

Milwaukee 105
New York 91

Minnesota 82
Phoenix 73

Seattle 91
LA Lakers 80

Portland 104
Chicago 100

San Antonio 110
Vancouver 77

Denver 105
Houston 100

Utah 100
Golden State 78

Sacramento 130
New Jersey 104

FROM
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Kevin Garnett Official Site


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