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Friday, Mar. 24 7:30pm ET
Garnett scores 38 in fifth straight win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- All the Minnesota Timberwolves talked about was Kevin Garnett and knowing how to play in close games. The New Jersey Nets whined about the officiating. Guess who won? Garnett scored 38 points and Malik Sealy put in a rebound with 38.8 seconds left in overtime to lead the Timberwolves to a 116-115 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night. "It wasn't my birthday but I'll take it," Garnett said after Minnesota won its fifth straight. The win was the Timberwolves' 14th in 17 games since losing to the Nets in Stephon Marbury's return to Minnesota on Feb. 20. Marbury was traded to New Jersey by the Timberwolves last season in a deal involving three teams. "We've been playing well all season, but recently I think we are starting to gel," Garnett said. "Maybe we are maturing." The Nets, who fell four games behind Orlando in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, were furious with the officiating in the closing seconds. Garnett made 1 of 2 free throws to tie the game at 108 with 2.2 seconds left in regulation after Scott Burrell was called for a holding foul under the basket on a play in which Minnesota inbounded the ball near midcourt. The other call -- or non-call -- came with 32.1 seconds left in overtime, when Keith Van Horn beat Garnett on a drive to the basket. Garnett turned his back and Van Horn ran into him and somehow had his shot blocked. "I was fouled clearly, without question," Van Horn said. On the ensuing inbounds play, Terrell Brandon stole a Kendall Gill pass and the Timberwolves ran out the clock after Wally Szczerbiak got an offensive rebound. Gill insisted Brandon pushed Elliot Perry on the play. "That's the worst I've ever seen," Gill said of the officiating. Nets coach Don Casey went to midcourt to yell at officials Don Vaden, Bill Spooner and Derek Richardson after the game. The Nets took a 115-112 lead in overtime on a basket by Van Horn and a free throw by Perry. Garnett hit a little hook with 1:09 to play to get the Timberwolves within a point and then he blocked a shot by Burrell at the other end of the floor. Burrell hurt his right knee on the play. Minnesota rushed the ball upcourt and Anthony Peeler missed a shot from the left corner. Sealy put in the rebound. "When I saw the ball go to A.P., I know when he shoots his rebounds go long, so I just tried to get myself in position," Sealy said. "It turned out to be more of a pass than a shot. I hope they gave him an assist." Garnett hit 15 of 24 shots in falling two points shy of his career high, which he had Wednesday against Boston. "As the season has gone on, he may be getting a little tired, but he has become more efficient," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said of Garnett. "He's just been great all year." Sealy and Joe Smith added 17 apiece. Kerry Kittles and Marbury each had 27 points for New Jersey, while Van Horn added 17. There were six lead changes in the final minute of regulation, including two in the final 7.7 seconds. Minnesota took a 107-106 lead when Sealy converted two free throws. Marbury was whistled for his sixth foul, though replays showed Van Horn hit Sealy across the arms. Lucious Harris, who replaced Marbury, put New Jersey back in front 108-107, tipping in a missed floater by Kittles with 2.2 seconds to play. Then came the foul call on the inbounds pass, sending Garnett to the line. He missed the first badly but converted the second to force overtime. Minnesota, which led almost from the start, appeared to be in control with 5:33 to play when Sealy capped an 8-2 spurt with three free throws to give the Timberwolves a 95-87 lead. New Jersey came right back and scored the next 10 points with Marbury hitting two free throws with 3:01 to play for a 97-95 lead. Game notesNets starting center Jim McIlvaine left the game with 5:14 left in the first quarter and did not return. ... The Timberwolves were credited with an assist on each of their 15 baskets in the first quarter. Brandon collected eight of those assists. ... The win was the 20th on the road for Minnesota, a franchise record. ... The Timberwolves are 19-9 in games decided by six points or less. They were 7-7 in such contests last season. ... The loss was only the Nets' sixth in their last 25 home games. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Minnesota Clubhouse New Jersey Clubhouse RECAPS Philadelphia 117 Boston 115
Minnesota 116
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