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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves were planning to
limit Kevin Garnett's minutes Sunday, but not like this.
|  | | Timberwolves center Reggie Slater had nine points and seven rebounds Sunday. |
Garnett and Karl Malone were ejected within a minute of each
other during the third quarter as the Timberwolves defeated the
Utah Jazz 107-100 in a nationally televised game that included six
technical fouls.
"That was the NBA at its best – fan-tastic," Jazz coach Jerry
Sloan said.
The Wolves unintentionally got a chance to prepare for the
playoffs without Garnett – and they liked the results. Minnesota
held a 59-58 lead when Garnett was ejected with 7:24 remaining in
the third period and built that to 92-82 with 6:12 left in the
game. Then the Wolves held off the Jazz after John Stockton's
back-door layup cut their lead to 99-96 with 1:37 remaining.
"At the times we've played without K.G. in spurts, we've done
well," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.
Malone and Garnett were given technicals for getting rough under
the basket with 7:52 remaining in the third period. Malone, who
scored 14 points, was ejected for the second time this season after
arguing with official Joey Crawford.
Garnett was called for a foul on Danny Manning on the Jazz's
next possession, drawing a protest from Garnett. Reggie Slater
tried to hold Garnett away from official Jim Clark, but Garnett
spun away toward Clark and was given his second technical of the
game and the first ejection of his career with 7:24 left in the
period.
Garnett, who finished with 17 points, cursed and made an obscene
gesture toward the officials as he walked off the court.
Clark and Malone declined to talk to reporters.
Garnett said he wasn't sure why he was given the second
technical, claiming the strongest thing he said was: "Damn, I
can't believe you made that call."
"I didn't have a strong conversation with the referee,"
Garnett said. "My conversation was basically very short, and I
said I can't believe they called that touch foul. Maybe the referee
was sensitive at that point, but this is crazy.
"I have never been kicked out of a game in my career – maybe
chased out of a park a couple of times. This is crazy."
Slater also said Garnett did not curse at the officials.
"He may have said what he said emphatically, but he didn't say
it in a threatening manner," Slater said. "It wasn't a phantom
tech – because he got it – but it was a mystery tech."
Utah's John Starks and Manning were called for technicals in the
fourth period.
Garnett finished with 17 points. About the gesture he made
toward the officials, he said he wasn't worried about any possible
repercussions from the league.
"I'm the one who should be mad at them," he said.
Game notes
Felipe Lopez returned to the Wolves' starting lineup in
place of Anthony Peeler, who started Thursday against the Los
Angeles Clippers. Peeler, who came off the injured list April 6,
scored 14 points. ... The Jazz and the Wolves went into the game
ranked 1-2 in assists per game. The Jazz, who averaged 25.8
assists, had 20 assists. Wolves, who averaged 25.4, had 27.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
Mavs win No. 51 by outlasting Sonics in OT
RECAPS
Philadelphia 89
New York 82
Boston 95
New Jersey 88
Cleveland 106
Washington 98
Orlando 90
Miami 73
Indiana 93
Chicago 86
Minnesota 107
Utah 100
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 86
LA Lakers 105
Portland 100
Charlotte 99
Detroit 90
Dallas 107
Seattle 99
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