Szczerbiak leads T-Wolves to win over Bucks

Minneapolis, MN (Basketball News) - Wally Szczerbiak scored 30 points and added six rebounds and six assists to help lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Milwaukee Bucks, 99-91, at the Target Center.

Kevin Garnett added 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who have won three of their last four games. Marko Jaric added 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the win.

Michael Redd paced Milwaukee with 28 points and Jamaal Magloire chipped in 14 points and 10 boards for the Bucks, who have now lost three of their last four. Joe Smith added eight points and 13 rebounds in defeat.

Garnett and Szczerbiak would takeover in the fourth frame to lead Minnesota. Down 73-68, Garnett scored 10 straight points during a 16-4 Timberwolves run that extended Minnesota to a 84-77 lead with 5:31 left in the final frame.

Redd’s three-pointer pulled Milwaukee to within four, but Minnesota then ran off six straight for a 90-80 edge. Milwaukee never recovered and two free throws by Szczerbiak kept the Timberwolves ahead 96-86 with 2:01 left.

The Bucks then ran off five straight to pull within five points, but Szczerbiak hit three free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

After a Redd layup, five straight points by Minnesota tied the game at 46-46 just over two minutes into the third. Later, down 56-53, an 11-0 Bucks spurt propelled Milwaukee to a 64-56 lead with 2:54 remaining in the frame and the Bucks led 68-65 heading into the fourth.

Down 8-7 2 1/2 minutes into the opening frame, Milwaukee used an 8-0 run to go ahead 15-8 with 7:14 remaining in the first. T.J. Ford’s jumper would later put the Bucks up 19-14 before the Timberwolves took a 27-21 advantage after a 13-2 run, with Szczerbiak netting the first six points of the spurt.

Minnesota would hold a 28-26 edge after the first and open up the second with an 11-0 run for a 39-26 lead less then four minutes into the contest.

The Bucks would heat up however and run off 17 straight points to go up 43-39 with 2:03 left in the second. Redd accounted for 11 points during the spurt and Milwaukee led 44-41 at the half.

Game Notes

Szczerbiak finished 9-of-10 from the free-throw line...Ford had 12 points. Bobby Simmons added 11 for the Bucks...Troy Hudson scored 10 points off the bench for Minnesota...Milwaukee has lost seven straight games in Minnesota... The Timberwolves lead the all-time series 21-11.