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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves don't have a
dominating center. They have three players, sometimes four, who
fill the role and occassionally combine for big numbers.
|  | | Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, left, challenges Suns center Jake Tsakalidis. |
Reggie Slater and Dean Garrett combined for 22 points, 10
rebounds and several big plays in critical moments of the
Timberwolves' 101-88 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
LaPhonso Ellis, who has spent most of his career at forward,
also gives Minnesota a center who shoots 3-pointers, runs the fast
break and grabs offensive rebounds. Slater barely scratches
6-foot-6 but is a bull inside. Garrett comes the closest to being a
traditional center.
"If you add up what those guys give us, we get some excellent
numbers," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said. "A guy like Reggie,
who's 6-5 1/2, 280, probably shouldn't be able to do the things he
does."
Slater has heard that all his life, though usually from people
who denied him opportunities because of his lack of height.
"I've heard a lot of naysayers," Slater said. "I kind of feed
off that."
Slater, known as Bolo, scored eight of his 14 points in the
opening four minutes of the fourth quarter. Fans chanted "Reggie!
Reggie!" as he went to the free-throw line to complete a pair of
three-point plays.
"Bolo came through when we needed it," said the Wolves' Kevin
Garnett, who scored 25 points. "It was encouraging to hear the
crowd chant his name. He deserves it. He works his butt off. It's
heart and determination."
Garrett scored the Wolves' first six points of the third quarter.
Slater was 5-for-5 from the field and Garrett was 3-for-4.
Garnett, who also grabbed 10 rebounds, scored more than 20
points for just the second time in his last eight games against the
Suns.
Garnett was 7-for-9 from the field and 7-for-8 from the
free-throw line after the first quarter, for 21 points. He was
2-for-6 from the field and 0-for-4 from the line in the first
quarter.
"Our whole system is based on stopping people," Suns coach
Scott Skiles said, "and they probably felt like they could do
whatever they wanted to do."
The Suns, who play tonight at Clevland, lost for just the second
time in 10 games and were denied a chance to clinch their 13th
consecutive playoff bid.
Jason Kidd, who averaged 27.4 points over his last 11 games, was
limited to 12 points on 6-for-19 shooting. His back stiffened
during warmups, and he has a bruised left knee.
"I still thought I could do things to help the team, but maybe
I hurt us," Kidd said. "If I had to play now, I couldn't. But
tomorrow, we'll see. I'm young. There's no time to rest now."
Mario Elie scored a season-high 17 points for the Suns.
The Wolves pulled within one game of the Suns in the race for
seventh place in the Western Conference. Both teams have seven
games remaining.
Game notes
Former Minneapolis Lakers great George Mikan will be
honored at halftime of the Lakers-Timberwolves game Sunday, which
will be attended by 22 of his former coaches and teammates. A
9-foot statue of Mikan will be unveiled. ... The Timberwolves
activated guard Anthony Peeler and placed guard Sam Jacobson on the injured
list with tendinitis in his right knee. Peeler scored 10 points in
his return.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88
LA Lakers 100
Boston 96
Miami 81
Charlotte 76
Toronto 108
Orlando 100
Indiana 100
Chicago 93
Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90
Portland 122
Golden State 91
LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Terrell Brandon finishes the Timberwolves' break with a layup.
avi: 703 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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