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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing so well, even giving up 18 straight points can't slow them down.
|  | | Kevin Garnett, right, had another fine all-around effort, with 19 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. |
Terrell Brandon had 22 points and 11 assists as the Timberwolves overcame a big run by the Portland Trail Blazers to win their sixth straight game, 93-80 Saturday.
"We played for 48 minutes and stuck to our game plan," Minnesota's Kevin Garnett said. "We forced them to miss some shots. We beat probably the best team in the NBA."
Brandon, who is shooting better than 60 percent during the
winning streak, made eight straight shots at one point and 10 of 14
for the game. He registered his sixth double-double of the season.
"I'm a true point guard," Brandon said. "I'm still looking to
pass first and shoot second or third. But I still demand the ball
because I know the offense is supposed to go through the point
guard."
LaPhonso Ellis added 16 points of 8-of-11 shooting off the
Timberwolves' bench, and he pulled down nine rebounds.
The loss prevented Portland coach Mike Dunleavy from clinching
the All-Star coaching spot in the Western Conference. Dunleavy
could still get it if Sacramento lost to the Clippers later
Saturday night.
Minnesota led 47-39 at halftime and looked to break the game
open by scoring the first 10 points of the third quarter to go up
by 18 with 9:17 to play. But Bonzi Wells, who led Portland with 21
points, scored seven consecutive points to key an 18-0 run that
tied the score with 5:15 left.
Asked what he was thinking during the run, Minnesota coach Flip
Saunders deadpanned, "I was just glad we were up by 18 when it
happened."
But Saunders inserted Ellis in the game, and he responded with
consecutive baskets. Ellis scored eight of the team's final 16
points in the quarter as the Wolves led 73-67 going into the fourth
quarter.
Brandon took over in the fourth quarter. He made three
consecutive jumpers to give Minnesota an 80-70 lead with 8:38 to
play.
Greg Anthony answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to get the
Blazers within four, but the Wolves got big plays from two reserves
-- a three-point play by Reggie Slater and a 3-pointer by Todd Day -- to go up 86-78.
"We see these guys every day in practice," Brandon said of the
Wolves' bench. "The starters set the tone, and we know we'll get
great support from anyone who comes into the game."
Garnett added 19 points for Minnesota, and his defense hassled
the Blazers' Rasheed Wallace into a 4-for-20, 10-point performance.
The Wolves held Portland scoreless over the final 4:11 of the game.
"We made some good runs but used up a lot of energy," Dunleavy
said. "Minnesota is a tough place to play at the end of a road
trip."
Portland shot just 39 percent for the game, while Minnesota shot
52 percent in the first meeting between the teams since the Blazers
dismissed the Wolves in the first round of the playoffs last year.
Game notes
The Timberwolves honored the late Bill Musselman, their
first coach, with a pregame ceremony. Musselman was serving as an
assistant coach with the Trail Blazers when he died from primary
systemic amyloidosis on May 5. ... Minnesota guard Chauncey Billups
missed his fifth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.
Portland center Arvydas Sabonis missed his third game in a row with
back spasms. ... The Timberwolves began a stretch of nine straight
games against teams .500 or better. ... Wallace picked up his
NBA-leading 25th technical foul in the third quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 99
Utah 86
Toronto 90
Chicago 80
Minnesota 93
Portland 80
Miami 81
Orlando 59
Houston 110
Charlotte 97
Atlanta 101
Cleveland 90
Washington 89
Phoenix 82
Detroit 108
Milwaukee 103
Denver 102
Dallas 100
Seattle 106
New Jersey 97
Sacramento 101
LA Clippers 89
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
Mike Dunleavy Official Site
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