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  Tuesday, Jan. 25 8:30pm ET
Minnesota 92, Houston 84
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

HOUSTON (AP) _ The Minnesota Timberwolves didn't get much scoring from anyone but Kevin Garnett and Terrell Brandon. They were enough.

Garnett scored 27 points, including two key baskets late, as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on to snap the Houston Rockets' six-game winning streak with a 92-84 victory Tuesday night.

Brandon added 26 points and dished out eight assists and Garnett also had 12 rebounds as Minnesota won for the 16th time in 19 games since breaking an eight-game losing streak.

``KG (Garnett) played at a high level and Terrell, when he's within 18 feet, is automatic,'' Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. ``For us to shoot like that, the credit goes to the guys who are moving it around so we can get those open shots.

``Overall, we kept our poise, and KG and Terrell both hit big shots.''

The Timberwolves built a 70-53 lead _ their biggest of the game _ in the final minute of the third quarter, but the Rockets twice closed the gap to five, the last at 85-80 with 1:48 to play.

``We've been sharing the ball,'' Garnett said. ``This has been a tremendously tough road trip, but we've got guys coming off the bench and contributing.''

Garnett also impressed Rockets rookie Kenny Thomas.

``Garnett is so long, it's like he's eight feet tall,'' Thomas said. ``He's amazing. He's definitely one of the top five players in the NBA. He deserves all the money he gets.''

Garnett kept the Rockets from getting too close on a jumper with 1:58 to play for a 85-78 lead, and his basket with 35 seconds left made it 90-82.

``Garnett is a super player,'' Rockets guard Steve Francis said. ``He's definitely as good as advertised. We couldn't stop him. He hit some big time jump shots over some tough defenders.''

Francis led Houston's fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 13 of his 24 points in the final period. Cuttino Mobley had 18 points and Thomas added 17 off the bench.

Minnesota scored 16 first-quarter points, tying its season-low for points in a quarter.

The Timberwolves trailed 18-16 before using a 9-0 spurt to begin the second quarter for a 25-18 lead. They stayed ahead for the rest of the half.

``We started slow but then we hit some easy baskets,'' Saunders said. ``The bench came on in the second quarter and gave us energy. Then the third quarter we came on and played well. This is really a big road win for us.''

After starting slow, the Timberwolves took a 43-36 halftime lead and really warmed up in the third quarter, hitting 13 of 19 shots with Brandon and Garnett leading the way.

``We made a lot tougher shots than the ones we missed,'' Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. ``When you don't' shoot well it's hard to win against a good team. The intensity level wasn't where it needed to be. Nine offensive rebounds and 37 percent shooting won't get it done.''

Notes: Hakeem Olajuwon needs 11 points to move past Alex English for 10th place on the career scoring list and 36 rebounds to move into 12th place ahead of Bob Pettit on the career rebounding list. ... Francis and Thomas each had double-doubles in four games of their six-game winning streak. ... Minnesota is 18-1 when leading after three quarters and 5-14 when trailing after three quarters. ... Houston hit only 30 percent of its first half shots, it's worst shooting half of the season.

 


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