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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Anthony Peeler and the rest of the Minnesota
Timberwolves' reserves were responsible for this victory.
Peeler scored 22 points as the Timberwolves rallied to beat the
Atlanta Hawks 88-81 Thursday night, ending the Hawks' season-high
four-game winning streak.
Minnesota's reserves outscored Atlanta's 39-13.
Minnesota trailed by as many as eight points in the third
quarter, but outscored Atlanta 25-14 in the final 12 minutes to win
its second game in a row.
"The big thing was our bench play and our energy," Minnesota
coach Flip Saunders said. "When the game was in doubt, they gave
us some momentum and got the crowd into the game. That made the
difference that allowed us to win."
The Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 12 rebounds
for his 19th double-double of the season.
Jason Terry led Atlanta with 31 points.
"Two nights ago, I was 6-for-22, and I knew that wouldn't hold
up," Terry said.
Terry took control of the offense in the third quarter, scoring
13 points. But Minnesota held Terry without a point for the first
eight minutes of the fourth and went on a 16-3 run to open up a
six-point lead with six minutes to play.
Atlanta led 80-79 with under three minutes to play, when the
Hawks were called for their second illegal defense of the game.
Minnesota's Terrell Brandon hit a free throw to tie the game,
sparking a 9-1 run to end the game.
"Minnesota made the plays down the stretch that created the
difference," Atlanta coach Lon Kruger said. "I'm proud of our
guys -- we were down six in a hostile place and they made the plays
to get right back into it. But the last few possessions, the Wolves
made the big plays."
Fueled by six points from Wally Szczerbiak in the first four
minutes, Minnesota opened a 10-0 lead. Atlanta called a timeout,
then tightened its defense and held Minnesota without a field goal
for a stretch of nearly seven minutes.
"They outscored us 17-7 after that, so the early lead wasn't
that important," Saunders said. "It was nice to see that energy
right from the start, but in this league we know that big leads can
evaporate very quick."
The opening quarter ended 17-17, with neither team shooting
better than 39 percent from the field. The Hawks took their first
lead early in the second quarter and held a one-point advantage at
halftime.
Terry hit six of his seven first-half shots to lead Atlanta with
15 points at the break.
Dikembe Mutombo had 20 rebounds for Atlanta, the best individual
rebounding performance against Minnesota this season.
"It's my job to go to the hole and rebound as much as I can,"
Mutombo said. "We played great, but we just lost the fight."
Game
notes
After a collision with Mutombo in the second quarter,
Minnesota guard Chauncey Billups left the game with a broken front
tooth and cut lip. He received stitches and did not return to the
game. ... Mutombo blocked a shot by LaPhonso Ellis in the final
minute, giving Atlanta's center 2,500 blocks in the NBA. ...
Atlanta is 0-4 on Thursdays this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Milwaukee 107
Cleveland 89
Boston 112
New Jersey 111
Orlando 102
Detroit 96
Dallas 105
LA Clippers 96
Minnesota 88
Atlanta 81
Portland 103
Utah 102
Chicago 105
San Antonio 104
Toronto 94
Denver 93
LA Lakers 115
Phoenix 78
Sacramento 91
Charlotte 87
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Kevin Garnett Official Site
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