NEW YORK, 25 January 2004 — Latrell Sprewell hit a diving layup with 57 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Minnesota Timberwolves an 80-79 win over the Detroit Pistons in a match-up of two of the NBA’s form teams on Friday.

Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and hauled down 17 rebounds to help the Timberwolves win for the eight times in the last nine games and for the 10th straight time at home.

The Pistons lost their second straight game after a 13-game winning streak.

Garnett scored 16 of his points in the second half, which was just enough to give the normally high-scoring T-Wolves the narrow victory.

Sprewell scored 17 points for Minnesota while Troy Hudson, playing just his fifth game of the season due to a sprained ankle, added 10 points in a solid 23 minutes coming off the bench.

Mehmet Okur scored 21 points, with 19 of them coming in the second half, and Richard Hamilton added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons.

Detroit, which is one of the NBA’s premier defensive teams, controlled the Timberwolves potent offense for most of the night but still lost for the seventh straight time at the Target Center.

In other play, Stephon Marbury scored 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to help the New York Knicks to a 96-94 win over the Hawks in Atlanta.

Marbury banked in the winning 3-pointer in the final minute to help the Knicks win for the fifth time in six games.

New York is 5-1 since replacing Don Chaney with Lenny Wilkins as coach and Marbury couldn’t be happier playing in his hometown for the league’s all-time game winning coach.

“It’s great playing for Lenny,” Marbury said. “He’s a guy you have to learn from.”

Keith Van Horn scored 18 points and Allan Houston added 17 as the Knicks continued their inspired play since Wilkins took over.

Shandon Anderson didn’t play for the Knicks, ending his consecutive games played streak at 543 games, the longest active in the NBA. Shareef Abdur-Rahim led the Hawks with 25 points, including a three-pointer with one second on the clock.

In Philadelphia, Tracy McGrady had 33 points and 10 rebounds to push the Orlando Magic to a 98-93 win over the 76ers.

The unlucky 76ers, which have been plagued by injuries all season, lost starters Derrick Coleman and Kenny Thomas due to injuries early and later lost Allen Iverson with a bruised left hand.

Iverson had X-rays after the game and is listed as day-to-day.

Gordan Giricek scored 19 points and Juwan Howard added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Magic, who have two wins in their past three games.

Iverson scored a team-high 30 points and Glenn Robinson added 20 for the 76ers, losers of four of the past five games.

In Miami, Lamar Odom scored 12 points and 18 rebounds to give the Heat an easy 85-64 win over the New Jersey Nets.

Eddie Jones had 18 points and was one of seven players to score in double digits for the Heat, who picked up their second win in eight games.

Kenyon Martin had 16 points for the Nets, who managed just 12 points in the fourth quarter and limped to their fifth straight loss.

In Boston, Mark Blount scored 14 points and pulled in 14 rebounds to help the Celtics to a 100-89 win over the Washington Wizards.

Paul Pierce put in 24 points for the Celtics, who picked up their second win in a row after four straight losses.

In New Orleans, Jamaal Magloire scored 20 points and picked up 11 rebounds to push the Hornets to a 97-91 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Darrell Armstrong scored 18 points and P.J. Brown added 16 as the Hornets picked up their second win in eight games. Carmelo Anthony scored 24 for Denver.

In Memphis, Jason Williams scored 25 points and added 10 assists to give the Grizzlies a 109-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. Mike Miller scored 27 points and Pau Gasol added 20 to give the Grizzlies their seventh straight win.

In Indianapolis, Yao Ming scored 17 points and 12 rebounds and Jim Jackson added 14 points and 10 rebounds to give the Houston Rockets a 78-74 win over the Pacers.

In Milwaukee, Joe Smith scored 13 points and 14 rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks to a 98-86 win over the Toronto Raptors.

In Chicago, Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Finley added 23 points to give the Dallas Mavericks their seventh straight win, a 106-93 victory over the Bulls.

In Phoenix, Tim Duncan had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs edged the Suns 86-84.

In Los Angeles, Quentin Richardson had 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Clippers past the Utah Jazz 93-82.