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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota fans haven't forgiven Stephon
Marbury for leaving, and they won't soon forget his return.
"It doesn't get any better than this," Marbury said Sunday
after scoring 39 points in New Jersey's 91-89 victory over the
Timberwolves.
Fans were merciless as Marbury returned to Target Center for the
first time since he forced the Timberwolves to trade him to the
Nets last March.
|  | | Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, Nets guard Lucious Harris and Minnesota rookie Wally Szczerbiak dive after a loose ball. |
Marbury, who left in part to escape Minnesota's wicked winters,
gave the packed house plenty to boo about, coming within three
points of his career high and dazzling the crowd of 19,449
boo-birds with his moves.
"Yes," he said, this was a very good 23rd birthday present.
"The best."
Marbury played with a motivation that the Wolves were unable to match.
"He was great for them. He played how we've seem him play many
times in this arena," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.
"Especially when the game was close, he made a couple of big
buckets."
But Marbury missed a crucial 3 from the top of the circle with
8.9 seconds left, giving Minnesota one last chance to send Marbury
home a loser.
Kevin Garnett missed a rushed off-balance runner, however. Malik
Sealy missed the tip, Kerry Kittles rebounded and no whistle was
called before the buzzer to the dismay of the sellout crowd.
"I tried to foul," Garnett said. "Ask Kittles."
Garnett scored 27 points, but missed 24 of 33 shots.
"I think I came out too hyped," said Garnett, who gave Marbury
a bear hug before tipoff.
While one fan held a sign wishing Marbury a happy birthday,
another placard at midcourt more accurately reflected the crowd's
frame of mind.
It read, "$teph Me-Baby."
Although the lethargic Wolves probably were more deserving of
the crowd's catcalls, Marbury got the
"boo-him-every-time-he-touches-the-ball" treatment during the
game televised by NBC, which one fan said stood for "New Jersey's
Biggest Crybaby."
"That didn't bother me at all," said Marbury, who had fun with
the ribbing, constantly flashing the smile that made him a fan
favorite for 2½ seasons.
"I think it meant everything to him," teammate Kendall Gill
said of Marbury's return. "He basically took it on himself in the
second half. I didn't expect him to score 39, but I expected him to
play well."
Marbury, who scored 25 points in the second half, forced the
trade last March. He said it was too cold and too boring for him in
Minnesota and that he wanted to return home to the East Coast,
where he ruled the asphalt courts in Coney Island as a teen-ager.
But he left a lot of bad blood in Minnesota.
General manager Kevin McHale and Saunders said Marbury told them
he wanted out because he was jealous of Garnett's $126 million
contract.
Saunders also said Tom Gugliotta might not have left for Phoenix
before last year's strike-shortened season had he known Marbury was
going to be leaving Minneapolis so soon.
Marbury not only wanted some home cooking but also figured he'd
get much more exposure, endorsements and esteem with the Nets, all
of which he's still waiting for. He was snubbed from the All-Star
Game this month, he's not pitching many products and the Nets
aren't in playoff contention.
"Miss KG?" asked one sign.
On this day, not so much.
Marbury's inspired play had both Terrell Brandon and Bobby
Jackson in foul trouble. At one point, Anthony Peeler ran the
Wolves' offense.
Brandon fouled out with 4:22 left, and Marbury made one of two
shots for an 88-80 lead. But Garnett's only hot streak, a jumper,
two foul shots and a 3-pointer, pulled the Wolves to 88-87 with
2:44 left.
"There was so much buildup on the game and then I don't even
get an opportunity to play," said Brandon, who was limited to 24
minutes.
Game notes
The Wolves sorely missed Brandon's presence as their last
two possessions ended in a shot clock violation and a frenetic
finish. ... Saunders said forward Sam Mitchell (sprained ankle)
will probably be out a week. He was replaced in the lineup by
rookie Wally Szczerbiak. ... Marbury scored a career-high 42 points
in Vancouver on Jan. 27.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Dallas 100
Toronto 96
Miami 85
Charlotte 80
New Jersey 91
Minnesota 89
Portland 108
Sacramento 103
LA Lakers 87
Philadelphia 84
San Antonio 113
Houston 111
Golden State 112
Washington 103
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