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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett, like Pat Riley, wasn't about
to let Anthony Mason get away with showing up late for a team
meeting.
|  | | Even reserves got into the dunking act Monday as LaPhonso Ellis slammed home two of his eight points. |
Garnett had 24 points and 15 rebounds and Chauncey Billups added
17 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the undermanned Miami
Heat 94-77 Monday night.
Miami was without Mason and Duane Causwell, who were sent home
early Monday by coach Riley as punishment for arriving late to a
team meeting. The meeting, held in Minnesota on Sunday night, was
one that Riley said, "You didn't want to be late for."
"I knew it was going to be physical no matter who guarded me,"
said Garnett, who was matched up with Brian Grant most of the game.
"I knew I had to be aggressive and match his energy."
On Friday, Garnett scored 13 points, and only two in the second
half, when Minnesota lost at Miami 86-79. Mason led Miami in that
game with 22 points and 10 boards.
"Us playing them four or five days ago was real fresh in our
minds," Garnett said. "We did not like the way we played down
there.
"I don't like to use the word 'payback,' but that's the way it
came off," he added.
Wally Szczerbiak picked up where Garnett left off, both on and
off the court. Szczerbiak had 13 points and 10 rebounds for
Minnesota, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
"A little payback feels good," Szczerbiak said. "Hopefully we
can keep on a roll and get to 50 wins."
The Timberwolves moved three games ahead of Houston in the hunt
for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Grant had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which lost for
the third time in four games.
"We need people to step up and pull together," said Grant, who
set a career high with 607 rebounds this season. "We've got to get
it done with the people we have."
Grant, like his teammates, did not want to talk about the absent
Heat players.
"I don't want to comment on that," he responded when asked
about Mason.
Tim Hardaway scored just two points on 1-of-8 shooting and Miami
shot 34.4 percent from the field -- the lowest by a Minnesota
opponent this season.
"We need to gather the troops, go home and get ready for
Sacramento," Riley said.
"This team needs to get their game back," he added. "We can't
look over our shoulder. We need to worry about ourselves."
Minnesota put the game away in the third quarter by limiting
Miami to just 12 points in the period. The Timberwolves used an
11-4 to take a 76-59 lead.
Miami did not get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
Garnett had 13 points and five rebounds midway through the first
quarter as Minnesota raced to an 18-10 lead. Billups hit two
3-pointers at the end of the quarter to give the Wolves a 31-20
lead.
Minnesota led 53-37 with 3:40 left in the second after two
layups by LaPhonso Ellis. Miami closed the half with a 10-4 run and
cut its deficit to 57-47.
"We didn't back down," coach Flip Saunders said. "When it got
a little bit muddy, we weren't afraid to muddy it up, too."
Cedric Ceballos had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Miami.
Game notes
Garnett tied his own club record with his eighth
consecutive double-double. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds by the
8:08 mark of the second quarter. It was his 44th double-double on
the season. ... Grant has 1,020 points and is the third Heat player
to reach the 1,000-point plateau. ... Miami had beaten Minnesota
three straight times. ... Timberwolves starting center Reggie
Slater had a season-high eight rebounds. ... Szczerbiak shot just
4-for-16 from the field.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 102
Chicago 94
Minnesota 94
Miami 77
San Antonio 99
LA Clippers 81
Denver 84
Golden State 79
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