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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- All Terrell Brandon's missing is a sword, some
warpaint and a battle cry.
|  | | Terrell Brandon did it all for the T-Wolves, with 27 points six steals. |
"It's like in that movie 'Braveheart' right now," said Kevin
Garnett. "He says, 'Charge' and we follow."
Brandon matched a season-high with 27 points and set the tone for Minnesota's defense as the Timberwolves extended their club-record winning streak to nine games Thursday night, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 90-81.
Brandon scored 18 in the second half and tied a season-high with
six steals as the Timberwolves remained the NBA's hottest team.
Philadelphia and Portland each won a league-high 10 straight this
season.
Garnett scored 18 points, 13 before halftime, as Minnesota held
its opponent under 100 points for the eighth time in nine games.
The Timberwolves had 10 blocks and limited the Cavs to 38 percent
shooting.
"We're playing team basketball, offensively and defensively,"
Garnett said. "The streak is to drive us. But we're not focused on
how many games we've won in a row. We're just rolling with it."
Chris Gatling had 15 points and Andre Miller 14 for the
Cavaliers, who dropped their fourth straight game and fell four
games below .500 for the first time this season.
For the second time this week and third time this season, Cavs coach Randy Wittman kept the locker room door closed longer than 20 minutes after the game.
"We don't have that pride and enthusiasm," Wittman said. "Everybody right now is kind of hoping instead of going out and making it happen. We have to come out and take the game and make it our game."
In the second half, it was Brandon's game.
Brandon, who seems to enjoy playing against one his former
teams, took over in the second half when Garnett couldn't find his
range. Garnett was just 1-for-7 in the second half.
"I'm here to help," said Brandon, who spent six seasons in
Cleveland. "This is K.G.'s team. He's a superstar. I'll do what I
can to help support him and the team. That means playing defense
and getting involved in the offense."
With the Timberwolves leading 70-67, Brandon hit a 3-pointer,
and on Cleveland's next possession, he came from behind to poke the
ball away from Miller and made two free throws.
Wally Szczerbiak, who had 16 points, then drilled a 15-foot
jumper to put the Timberwolves up by 10 with 6:26 left.
Miller's layup brought the Cavs within 77-72, but the
Timberwolves did a nice job reversing the ball on their next trip
to Todd Day, who hit a 3-pointer to put Cleveland away for good.
"I missed everything else," said Day, who went 1-for-6. "On
that one, I just closed my eyes. Both of them, I guess."
Brandon has scored 20 or more points in six of his last eight
games.
"Terrell was great," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
"People here have seen that before. He knew we had won eight
straight. He and Garnett were almost obsessed with keeping the
streak going. They were not going to let us down."
For the fourth straight game, the Cavs had trouble getting
started and were down by 10 points in the third quarter after
Garnett hit a 3-pointer.
But rookie Chris Mihm scored five points in a 9-0 spurt and Cleveland closed within 51-50 before Brandon scored seven in the final four minutes to put the Timberwolves up 64-59 after three.
Game notes
Minnesota is 15-5 since snapping a four-game losing streak
on Dec. 26, and 10-1 against Central teams. ... Cavs F Lamond
Murray missed his second game with an injured left ankle. Wittman
said Murray has arthritic spurring in his ankle and is day-to-day.
... As the injuries have mounted, Wittman said he's been trying to
laugh through the pain. "Humor's all I've got left now," he said.
... Minnesota G Anthony Peeler is not with the team because of death in his family. Chauncey Billups started for Peeler. ...
Cleveland G Trajan Langdon made his first career start as Wittman tried to find the right combination to get his team off to a better start.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 90
Cleveland 81
Dallas 95
Miami 91
Philadelphia 87
New York 80
LA Clippers 101
Houston 84
Utah 87
Charlotte 76
Portland 100
Phoenix 92
Seattle 97
Chicago 91
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
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