Timberwolves are headed towards an early vacation

Minnesota, which lost in the 2003-04 Western Conference finals to the Los Angeles Lakers the last time it was in the postseason, is scheduled to play eight of its final 13 games this season at home. The Timberwolves final home games are against Seattle, Miami, Cleveland, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, Toronto, Dallas, San Antonio and Memphis.

Two teams with slim playoff hopes meet on Tuesday, as the SuperSonics visit Minnesota at the Target Center. It is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the clubs. Seattle won two of the three contests.

Seattle has lost three straight after winning its last two at Minnesota.

The Timberwolves play the finale of a short two-game homestand against Seattle. All-Star Kevin Garnett’s fade away jumper as time expired pushed Minnesota over the Portland Trail Blazers, 94-93, on Sunday at the Target Center.

Garnett poured in 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Minnesota, which won for just the second time in its last six games overall. Rookie Randy Foye poured in 17 points, while Ricky Davis scored 15 points and dished out eight assists in the win for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota is 20-13 at home this season. The Timberwolves are scheduled to visit Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday at EnergySolutions Arena.

Besides Utah, the Timberwolves will play their final road contests against Orlando, New York, Golden State and Denver.

Garnett leads the Timberwolves in scoring (22.8 ppg) and rebounding (12.8 rpg). He has scored in double-digits in all 68 games he has played and has collected 56 double-doubles and three triple-doubles this season. The All-Star forward is averaging 23.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in his last 10 outings.