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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Gary Payton was hurting, and the Timberwolves
took advantage.
|  | | The Sonics' Desmond Mason loses the handle on this rebound as the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett anticipates a loose ball. |
Minnesota's three starting perimeter players combined for 60
points as the Timberwolves beat the SuperSonics 105-92 Thursday
night.
Despite a nagging groin injury, Payton led Seattle with 19
points in his 348th straight regular-season start, the longest
active streak in the NBA. But the Sonics' defense did them in.
Anthony Peeler scored 22 points, Terrell Brandon had 17 of his
21 in the first half, and Wally Szczerbiak chipped in 13 of his 17
in the third quarter.
Payton bounced back from a season-worst six-point performance
against Indiana on Tuesday night that snapped his 70-game string of
scoring 10 points or more. He was more concerned about his team's
lack of intensity than with his injury.
"Ask me about the game," Payton snapped. "Ain't nothing wrong
with me."
Payton also was unhappy with the frequency Minnesota scored on
second chances. The Wolves turned offensive rebounds into 11 points
and scored 25 off fast breaks.
"A lot of people are working on one end and not the other,"
Payton said. "If that keeps happening, we're going to keep losing.
They played well, (but) we've got guys worrying about things other
than basketball."
Sonics coach Nate McMillan was concerned with the Sonics'
defense, too.
"Defensively, we're playing soft," he said. "We're not
playing either side of the floor well. We're letting guys drive
right by us."
Minnesota coach Flip Saunders was happy to see that.
"We've been pushing the ball and scoring more points," he
said.
Rebounding from a loss Tuesday night to lowly Washington, the
Timberwolves trailed for only 58 seconds -- all in the first half.
Szczerbiak energized the Wolves right after halftime. With a mix
of quick drives to the hoop and long jumpers, he scored 10 of
Minnesota's first 12 points of the third quarter.
Szczerbiak also sparked several fast breaks in the period by
nabbing two rebounds and a few more loose balls. He had 11 rebounds
in the game.
LaPhonso Ellis had 13 points and nine rebounds.
"I have to play with energy," he said. "My mother-in-law says
if she can see my eyes and teeth, I'm playing well."
Minnesota's Kevin Garnett finished with 13 points. His jumper
with 2:40 left extended his double-figure scoring streak to 244
games, the longest active streak in the league.
Chauncey Billups scored 13 points off the bench for the Wolves.
Vin Baker scored 17 points for Seattle, which stayed close in
the first half thanks to a 14-0 run midway through the second
quarter. Desmond Mason had 12, and Shammond Williams added 11 for
the Sonics.
Game notes
Sonics coach Nate McMillan said it wasn't a close call
whether Payton would start. "Guys like that want to play,"
McMillan said. "If they're (at least) half speed, they feel they
can be effective. At times, that's better than nothing." Payton
has missed only two games in his 11-year career. ... Minnesota
coach Flip Saunders is one victory short of 200 for his NBA career.
The Wolves are 10-4 when scoring more than 100.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Miami 81
New Jersey 78
Minnesota 105
Seattle 92
New York 95
Orlando 92
Chicago 98
Washington 96
Houston 107
Detroit 97
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
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