NBA Game Summary - LA Clippers at Minnesota

12.17.2004

Minneapolis, MN (Basketball News) - Kevin Garnett scored 28 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 113-86 victory over the LA Clippers at the Target Center.

Wally Szczerbiak added a season-high 29 points for the Timberwolves, winners in four of their last six outings.

Elton Brand scored 17 points with seven rebounds to lead LA, which has dropped four straight. Corey Maggette contributed 15 points in the loss.

The Clippers played teams tight in their previous three losses, which included a pair of two-point setbacks and a double-overtime loss to Boston.

But the Timberwolves put an end to that in the second half of this one, opening the third quarter with a 15-6 run to extend their 47-39 halftime lead to 62-45. It was all Szczerbiak and Garnett during the burst, as the two combined for 13 of the 15 points.

Szczerbiak opened the run with consecutive buckets, and added a three pointer later. Garnett scored six during the spurt, and ended it with a basket inside the 8:00 mark.

Szczerbiak finished with 11 points in the quarter.

The Timberwolves extended their lead to 18 points and headed into the fourth ahead 81-63. Their advantage reached as high as 28 points, while the Clippers were never closer than 17 in the final 12 minutes.

The Timberwolves have won nine straight against the Clippers.

The largest lead in a close first quarter was five points, enjoyed by Minnesota when a Sam Cassell bucket around the 7:00 mark made it 15-10.

The Timberwolves carried a 24-23 edge into the second quarter, and created some distance by ending the first half with five unanswered points to lead 47-39 at the break.

Minnesota shot 46 percent in the first half to LA’s 39 percent, and Garnett led all players with 12 points.

Minnesota guard Latrell Sprewell injured his left foot in a collision with LA’s Bobby Simmons less than three minutes into the game. He left the court and did not return...Clippers guard Kerry Kittles sat out the second half with a strained lower back...Garnett recorded his 21st double-double of the season.

Post your comment:

No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.