RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Nick Van Exel put the Denver Nuggets in control with his long-range shooting in the third quarter and kept them there the same way in the fourth.
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| Van Exel |
Van Exel scored 30 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining, to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 107-100 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
"Tonight was the night I made them," Van Exel said. "I want
to try to feel the same even if I shoot and miss. I want to stay
positive if I'm making or if I'm missing."
Todd Day's 3-point play gave Minnesota its first lead since the
middle of the third quarter with 2:28 to play in the game. But Van
Exel promptly put Denver up 100-98 with his fifth 3-pointer of the
game.
"The reason you win on the road is that when teams go on runs,
you don't throw in the towel," Nuggets coach Dan Issel said.
Raef LaFrentz, who returned to the starting lineup for the first
time in three games, hit four straight free throws to give Denver a
six-point lead. LaFrentz scored 25 points as the Nuggets won for
just the second time in seven road games this season.
"Raef takes a beating," Van Exel said. "Raef's a pretty
strong individual. He set the tone for us early."
Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Van Exel carried Denver on a 17-4 charge in the third period -- scoring eight straight points in one stretch -- to put the Nuggets
ahead 78-66 with 2:41 left in the quarter.
"You want to try and deny him the ball, but he is the point guard, so that's tough," Minnesota's Wally Szczerbiak said. "If you let them get on a roll, you're going to be in trouble."
Van Exel had 13 points, and Denver was 5-for-7 from 3-point range in the quarter.
"When he was messing around (after a whistle in the second half), and he threw it in from half court, I knew it wasn't our night," Garnett said.
Chauncey Billups had 10 of his 21 points in the final quarter as the Wolves rallied from a 12-point deficit with 9:54 remaining.
Antonio McDyess had 17 points and moved into 14th place on the Nuggets' career scoring list. Voshon Lenard had 19 points, and James Posey added 10.
LaPhonso Ellis scored 14 points for Minnesota and Szczerbiak added 12.
Game notes
Minnesota plays seven sets of back-to-back games between
Thanksgiving and Christmas. ... Denver, which entered the game 25th
in the league in free-throw shooting (68 percent), went 17-for-25.
... Minnesota made all 19 of its attempts at the line.
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NBA Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 93
Washington 87
Charlotte 103
Toronto 79
Detroit 97
New Jersey 76
Utah 88
Orlando 86
Denver 107
Minnesota 100
Miami 84
New York 81
San Antonio 82
Sacramento 79
Vancouver 109
Phoenix 106
LA Clippers 106
Golden State 83
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