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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves might miss Joe
Smith, but Wednesday night he was just another opposing player.
Terrell Brandon scored 23 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 22
as the Timberwolves beat the Detroit Pistons 111-100. Kevin Garnett
had a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Smith signed with Detroit on Nov. 20 after NBA commissioner
David Stern voided his contract with the Wolves, for whom he played
the past two seasons. Stern ruled Minnesota had circumvented the
salary cap by signing Smith to a secret long-term contract before
the 1999 season. He has expressed a desire to return to the
Timberwolves next season.
"You always have to have some kind of competitive edge when you
play," Garnett said. "But once the game is over, he's the same
guy I play against in the summer. I'm just happy he's gotten an
opportunity somewhere."
On this night, Smith struggled with a 3-for-15 shooting night
and scored only eight points in his first game in Minnesota since
leaving the team early in the season.
"I knew this would be more difficult than when they came to
Detroit," Smith said. "This has been very emotional -- that's my
old team and my buddies."
In the meantime, Minnesota focused on the game. The Wolves had
lost five of six games and trailed 55-53 at halftime.
But Detroit went without a field goal for the first 9:11 of the
third quarter, as the Wolves went on a 19-2 run to lead 72-57.
Garnett and Brandon each scored six points during the run, as the
Pistons missed 13 shots in a row.
"(Coach) Flip (Saunders) tried to get KG (Garnett) and I to
pick up the defensive pressure at halftime," Brandon said. "Then
we hit some shots and that opened things up."
Jerry Stackhouse scored 28 points for Detroit, 18 in the fourth
quarter, and Corliss Williamson added 21.
Detroit, which trailed 80-69 after three quarters, closed to six points in the fourth quarter. They trailed 92-85 when Anthony
Peeler stole the ball and fed Brandon for a layup with 5:06 to
play.
Brandon then a long jumper to restore the 11-point lead, and
Minnesota iced the game by making 13 of 14 free throws in the final
quarter.
The Wolves have won seven consecutive games against the Pistons.
Peeler hit six of seven shots and scored 16 of his 18 points in
the first quarter, as the Wolves took a 36-22 lead. But the Pistons
hit their first eight shots of the second quarter and took a
two-point lead at halftime when Chucky Atkins hit a runner in the
lane at the buzzer.
"Our best quarter by far was the second quarter," Pistons
coach George Irvine said. "It was the best quarter we played
defensively, and we got our fastbreak going."
Game notes
Guard Felipe Lopez, signed Wednesday by the Timberwolves,
said he talked with the Los Angeles Lakers and at least one other
team, but said, "Minnesota is the best place for me now and in the
future." Lopez played the game's final 1:20 after Peeler fouled
out and scored two points. ... The Wolves last lost to the Pistons
on March 21, 1997, 112-98 in Detroit. ... Smith had 16 points in
the teams' other meeting this season, a 99-90 Minnesota win on Dec.
15 at Detroit. ... February was the Wolves' first losing month
(5-6) in the past nine, dating to December 1999.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Detroit Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Milwaukee 86
Toronto 95
Atlanta 88
Charlotte 91
New Jersey 88
Minnesota 111
Detroit 100
Philadelphia 79
Miami 69
Houston 95
Chicago 78
Orlando 97
Phoenix 91
Utah 101
Vancouver 83
Denver 107
LA Lakers 101
Sacramento 122
Golden State 101
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