Timberwolves bite Sonics

Published 9:00 pm Friday, January 21, 2005

SEATTLE – Though they came in trailing by 81/2 games in the standings, the Minnesota Timberwolves are not about to concede the Northwest Division title to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Minnesota showed that much Friday night, pulling in front early and then repeatedly holding off the Sonics for a 112-107 victory in a spirited division showdown at KeyArena.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not like Minnesota is not a good team,” said Seattle coach Nate McMillan. Although the Timberwolves, who won 58 regular-season games a year ago, are just 20-19 this season, “they were picked to win the (Western Conference),” he added. “And tonight they came out and played like it.”

The Sonics, said Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett, “are leading the division and they’re one of the better teams right now. When you beat them, it’s almost like you win twice. And it makes us just a little bit closer to that first spot.”

The Sonics, who fell behind by 16 points in the second period, battled gallantly to the end. Backed by a sellout crowd of 17,072 that filled the arena with cheers as loud as any this season, Seattle closed within four points three times in the late minutes.

Each time, the T-wolves managed to pad their margin. Twice it came from the talented hand of Garnett, a seven-time All-Star, who delivered first a short field goal and later two free throws. And with 15 seconds to go, forward Wally Szczerbiak added a final free throw for the eventual five-point margin.

Seattle had one final gasp, but guard Ray Allen missed a contested 3-point shot from the right corner with nine seconds left, sealing the outcome.

When it was over, none of the Sonics thought they had played poorly. Seattle outrebounded Minnesota 35-34, including 15 offensive rebounds. The Sonics had just six turnovers and shot the ball well, going 39-for-83 from the field (.470, better than their season average) and a brisk 12-for-25 (.480) from the 3-point stripe.

Simply said, the T-wolves played better.

And, McMillan said, “this is what we will be facing (the rest of the season). We’re the team that’s at the top. No one expected us to be here, but we’re here and now teams are coming ready to play against us. We’re the team they’re shooting for, so we’re going to have to learn how to play with this intensity.

“This was almost like playoff basketball,” he said, “and it’ll be like that for the remainder of the season.”

Szczerbiak finished with a season-high 34 points, and he likewise punished the Sonics elsewhere on the court. Not only did he drop in 11 of 19 field goal attempts, including both of his 3-point tries, but he had a game-high eight assists and tacked on six rebounds to boot.

Garnett, meanwhile, was typically brilliant. Last season’s NBA Most Valuable Player chipped in 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field, and added eight rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the T-wolves shot a season-best .581 from the field (43-for-74), including 10-for-17 from the 3-point line.

“They shot the lights out of the ball,” said Seattle guard Luke Ridnour. “And they executed well. You have to give them a lot of credit for how they played.”

“Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are,” agreed forward Danny Fortson. “They came in here ready to play and they did it.”

The Sonics got 25 points from Allen, though he was a mere 7-for-23 from the field. It was the 11th consecutive game that Allen has shot under .500 from the field.

This is just the second time this season the Sonics have lost back-to-back games. Seattle has yet to lose three in a row, and it will try to keep that string intact on Sunday night when the Utah Jazz visit.

Minnesota was without starting Sam Cassell, who missed his eighth consecutive game with a strained right hamstring muscle. He watched the game in street clothes from the T-wolves’ bench.

After facing Utah on Sunday, the Sonics head off on a three-game road swing, their longest against Western Conference foes this season. The trip starts Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Lakers, moves to Utah on Wednesday and concludes Friday at Golden State.