LOS ANGELES, 20 December 2003 — Minnesota Timberwolves’ head coach Flip Saunders is running out of superlatives for the brilliance of Kevin Garnett’s play. Garnett recorded his first triple-double of the season with 35 points, along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, as the Timberwolves held off the visiting Dallas Mavericks 114-109 Thursday night.
“Kevin Garnett keeps getting better and better,” Saunders said of his all-star forward. “He doesn’t amaze me. He can’t do anything more. The thing is, it’s infectious on our team. He’s our leader.”
Instead of talking about his 13th career triple-double, Garnett would rather praise his teammates’ play.
The Timberwolves’ fourth straight victory and seventh in the last eight games, vaulted them into a first-place deadlock in the Midwest Division with idle Denver and San Antonio.
“The victory means more than anything,” Garnett said. “We all played well tonight, we all played together, to beat a very good team.”
Sam Cassell had eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for Minnesota (16-9). Forward Gary Trent made the most of his first start with a season-best 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds.
“Garnett just makes it easier for everybody,” Trent said. “He sets the tone. He goes that hard you can’t be slacking. He’s our leader and we’re going to go as far as he can take us.”
Steve Nash had 27 points and nine assists as Dallas suffered its second road loss in as many nights after falling to Boston.
Reserve forward Antawn Jamison added 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter while Dirk Nowitzki finished with 15 despite a sore left ankle.
“This was one of those games where I have no complaints,” Mavericks’ coach Don Nelson said.
“I thought we battled the best and everybody put up a good effort.
“We’re just not having everybody hitting at the same time. You need that when you’re playing back-to-back games against a good team, a hot team.”
When asked about Garnett’s performance, Nelson said, “His triple-double doesn’t surprise me. The guy is sensational. He is every time we play him.”
Dallas erased a 10-point deficit and took a short-lived 99-98 lead on Nash’s 3-pointer with just over five minutes left in the game.
Minnesota answered with a 9-1 run, however. Garnett hit consecutive jumpers, Cassell buried a 3-pointer and Trent Hassell made a pair of free throws, helping the Timberwolves regain the lead for good, 107-100 with 2:45 left.
Josh Howard’s two free throws pulled the Mavericks to within 112-109 with 11.8 ticks to go. But Cassell wrapped up the victory with two free throws at the other end.
Elsewhere:
Kings 101, Hornets 90:
Brad Miller flirted with his third triple-double of the season, collecting 21 points along with 14 rebounds and nine assists, as the visiting Kings buzzed past the slumping Hornets in the wire-to-wire victory.
Mike Bibby scored 19 points, reserve Bobby Jackson had 18, and Peja Stojakovic finished with 17 for Sacramento, which shot a sizzling season-high 55 per cent (37-of-67) from the field.
Baron Davis tallied 23 points on just 9-of-23 shooting in New Orleans’ third straight loss.
Trail Blazers 101, Suns 94:
Zach Randolph had 29 points and 20 rebounds as the Trail Blazers sent the struggling Suns to their sixth consecutive road loss.
Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace added 15 points apiece for Portland, which improved to 12-3 at home but 0-8 on the road.
Shawn Marion scored 20 points for last-place Phoenix, (9-17), which fell to 1-4 under new coach Mike D’Antoni. Penny Hardaway netted 15 points while Stephon Marbury finished with 11 and a season-high 17 assists.
