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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- LaPhonso Ellis normally isn't
the first or second option when the Minnesota Timberwolves need a
clutch basket. Against the Vancouver Grizzlies, however, he's been
the right option twice this season.
|  | | Bryant Reeves looks to make a move to the basket on Kevin Garnett. |
Ellis hit a 3-pointer with 45 seconds left to lift the
Timberwolves to a 96-94 victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday. With
Minnesota holding a 89-88 lead, Ellis took an inbounds pass with a
second left on the 24-second clock and hit the desperation attempt.
Wally Szczerbiak inbounded the ball on the Vancouver baseline,
and was supposed to look for either Kevin Garnett or Terrell
Brandon. Only Ellis was open and his shot enabled the Timberwolves
to sweep a three-game road trip and improve to 11-11 on the road.
"I haven't had many opportunities, and the ones I've had I'd
missed," said Ellis, who scored nine of his 13 points in the
fourth quarter. "But before the game I'll usually shoot 50 of
those 3-pointers. I'm comfortable shooting that shot. But man it's
great to make one under those circumstances."
"LaPhonso's name was picked out like a lottery and he made a
huge shot," said Garnett, who had 20 points.
Brandon also had 20 points for Minnesota.
Grizzlies coach Sidney Lowe, whose team was victimized last week
in Los Angeles when a last-second attempt counted, giving the
Lakers an overtime victory, found some irony in the Ellis basket.
"I kind of wish maybe we were in L.A. Maybe the clock with one
second would have run out. He actually caught the ball, keyed it up
and shot it with one second on the clock. I don't think he would
have gotten that in L.A," Lowe said.
It was the type of shot that has been lacking with the Grizzlies
throughout the season. Vancouver dropped to 2-10 in games decided
by three points or less.
"I don't how much more we can take of this before we decide to
do something about it," Lowe said.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim led Vancouver with 24 points, but Garnett
noted his U.S. Olympic teammate is not the same person since rumors
of a possible trade surfaced.
"I went to halfcourt (before the game). I looked at him in the
eyes and I felt for him. He was not there," Garnett said of
Abdur-Rahim. "You can see (losing) is getting to him. There's no
sense of loyalty in this league anymore."
Game notes
Chauncey
Billups (sprained ankle) did not dress for the Wolves. ... Ike Austin of the Grizzlies left the game in the third quarter
because of a dislocated finger on his right hand.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 87
New York 74
Washington 94
Atlanta 90
Toronto 110
Philadelphia 106
Utah 109
Phoenix 98
Minnesota 96
Vancouver 94
Miami 103
LA Lakers 92
Milwaukee 102
Detroit 98
Golden State 94
Boston 91
Seattle 109
Sacramento 107
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
Mike Bibby Official Site
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