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  Thursday, Jan. 6 8:00pm ET
Garnett beats Pippen on game-winner
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett is right at home with the game on the line, especially when he's in the Target Center paint.

Damon Stoudamire, Terrell Brandon
Damon Stoudamire drives past Terrell Brandon in a matchup of Portland natives.

Garnett banked in a 10-foot shot with 3.3 seconds left to cap a 27-point performance as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Portland 98-96 on Thursday night.

"They were anticipating us to call a timeout," Garnett said. "I sprinted down the court and got to my favorite box."

Terrell Brandon found Garnett, who got free with a fake.

"I gave (Scottie) Pippen a herky-jerky move to get some space," Garnett said.

Malik Sealy tied his season-high with 27 points for Minnesota, which won for the eighth time in nine games following an eight-game losing streak. Brandon, who was playing despite a severe cough, had 17 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds.

"Tonight was a credit to the hard work we have put in over the last three weeks," said Sealy, who hit two crucial jumpers in the last two minutes. "Flip (Saunders) and the rest of the coaches got us to work hard."

Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points, and Steve Smith had 20 for Portland, which had its six-game winning streak snapped. Wallace and Garnett were going head-to-head for most of the game in both points and emotion.

"When I felt him (Wallace) getting a lot more aggressive, I felt I had to get more aggressive," Garnett said. "I had to keep him on his heels."

Portland had a 92-88 lead with 2:45 remaining before Garnett and Brandon each made two free throws to tie it with 1:52 left. The teams then traded baskets twice before Garnett banked in a 10-footer to win it.

Damon Stoudamire's jumper from the foul line, rimmed in and out at the buzzer.

"There was no room for Rasheed or me to get free," Smith said of the last play. "Damon had a great look and it rattled in and out."

"That was a hard-fought ball game," Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. "At the end of the game, we didn't come up with the loose balls and it cost us."

Leading 49-47, Portland took advantage of eight Minnesota turnovers in the third quarter to extend its lead to 75-70. Smith scored seven in the quarter and Pippen added five.

Wallace scored nine in the first quarter as Portland took a 27-20 lead.

Minnesota used a 9-2 run at the start of the second to tie it at 29 with 8:46 left in the half.

Portland center Arvydas Sabonis didn't play because of an upper respiratory infection.

Game notes
Minnesota activated center Dean Garrett, who had been on the injured list since Dec. 17 because of a sore left knee. He had four points and three rebounds in eight minutes. ... Minnesota guard William Avery played for the first time in six games, following a bout with the flu. ... Sealy shot 11-for-16 from the field and is shooting 61.4 percent in his last 11 games. ... Smith made was three for six from 3-point range and is 16-for-27 (59 percent) in his last seven games. ... Wallace got a technical for the second straight game.
 


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