RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Golden State Warriors are beginning
to feel relief now that Bob Sura is back in the starting lineup.
| | Timberwolves guard Chauncey Billups tries to pass around the Warriors' Erick Dampier. | Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes each scored 18 points Saturday
night as the Golden State Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak
by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-93.
It was Golden State's highest point total of the season.
Kevin Garnett recorded his 10th double-double of the season with
22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves, who lost their
second straight after a five-game winning streak. William Avery
added 12 points for Minnesota.
Sura, a veteran point guard who missed the first 10 games with a
strained lower back, has spread the scoring wealth for the
Warriors.
"Sura has a couple of games under his belt now and he's getting
the ball to the right people," Warriors' coach Dave Cowens said.
"He's energizing the team."
Sura had seven assists to go with 11 points, Chris Mills had 17
points and Mookie Blaylock added 14 for the Warriors, who easily
recorded their largest margin of victory on the year and reached
100 points for the first time in nine games.
"He's a very good creator with the ball," Mills said of Sura.
"He's thinking pass first and shot second."
Said Sura: "We're getting better each game. We played our best
game of the year. There was a lot of energy. We have to try to keep
up the pace."
Golden State took an 82-58 lead into the fourth quarter by
outscoring the Timberwolves 26-19 in the third quarter as Mills
scored 11 of his points. The Warriors led by as many as 31 points,
82-51, following a Mills three-point play with 1:27 left in the
period.
"We got our butts kicked," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
"We looked sluggish. They played more aggressive than we did. They
did everything right."
The Warriors took a 25-11 lead eight minutes into the game,
highlighted by 11 points from Jamison, and maintained a
double-digit lead the rest of the way. The 32 points they scored in
the first quarter were two off their season high set in their
season opener.
"A lot of guys led by example," said Jamison. "They were
unselfish, played defense and looked for the open man. We have to
continue with this because this is the type of team we can beat."
Minnesota's play was so uninspired, with the exception of
Garnett, who had 10 points and nine rebounds in the first half,
that not even a technical foul on coach Flip Sanders at 5:11 of the
second quarter could muster much enthusiasm. The Timberwolves went
scoreless the last 2:14 of the half, then went nearly five minutes
into the third quarter before scoring again.
Golden State, which averages fewer than 42 points in the first
half, took a 56-39 lead at halftime. It was the most points the
Warriors have scored in the first half all season.
Game notes Minnesota guard Terrell Brandon entered the game averaging
22.8 points a game on the road, and 10.3 at home. ... The
Timberwolves lead the NBA in 3-point accuracy at 40.7 percent. ...
The Warriors averaged 86.5 points in their previous eight games.
... Golden State's Chris Mullin did not dress for the game because
of a sore left knee. ... The 18 points Minnesota scored in the
first quarter matched a season low for Warriors' opponents.
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NBA Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Golden State Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 79 New York 75
Charlotte 109 Cleveland 98
Houston 91 Miami 80
Orlando 114 Atlanta 92
Dallas 108 Denver 84
Washington 107 Milwaukee 100
San Antonio 96 Philadelphia 76
Portland 86 New Jersey 84
Golden State 114 Minnesota 93
Phoenix 95 LA Clippers 89
Sacramento 125 Seattle 101
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