NEW YORK, 24 November 2004 — Kevin Garnett just missed out on a triple-double with 21 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a gritty 83-82 road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
Garnett made two key free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining to give Minnesota the lead and Trenton Hassell blocked Jerry Stackhouse’s long jumper at the buzzer to preserve the win for the T-Wolves. The Mavericks were without leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki, who is expected to miss seven-to-10 days with an ankle injury after a scan on Monday revealed the extent of the damage.
Dallas played a strong game for most of the night without Nowitzki against a weary Minnesota team, but the Mavericks could not hold on to a 12-point lead with five minutes to play. Steve Finley is also on the disabled list for Dallas, who also lost Steve Nash to free agency in the off-season.Sam Cassell added 16 points for the Timberwolves (6-3), while Troy Hudson had 11 points and Eddie Griffin hauled down 13 rebounds. Josh Howard led the Mavs with 22 points and eight rebounds. Marquis Daniels added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas (8-4).
In other games, Bonzi Wells had 26 points as the Memphis Grizzlies edged the San Antonio Spurs 93-90 in Memphis. Wells hit a three-pointer with 13 seconds left for the winning points for the Grizzlies, who were without two starters and a leading reserve. Brian Cardinal added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies.
In Phoenix, Shawn Marion had 21 points and 16 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns kept the Chicago Bulls winless with a 100-82 victory. Amare Stoudemire also scored 21 points for the Suns, who had six players in double-figures against the woeful Bulls, who gave up 65 first half points.
In Salt Lake City, Jamaal Magloire scored 20 points and added 11 rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets won their first game of the season, 76-75 over the Utah Jazz. Lee Nailon added 16 points for the Hornets.
Pacers Issue Apologies for ‘Fight Night’
In the wake of perhaps the most embarrassing incidents in NBA history, the Indiana Pacers brain trust came to the support of their players, who were given harsh suspensions for their parts in a near riot with rowdy Detroit Pistons fans on Friday night. “We apologize for our part in it,” Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said Monday at a press conference at Indiana’s Conseco Fieldhouse. Though suspended, the Pacers will stand by their star players. “The three players that are out, we will be supporting them 100 percent,” Pacers President Larry Bird said.
Meanwhile, Pacers forwar Ron Artest issued a statement of apology for leaving the court and engaging in several fights with fans in the stands.
“First, its very important to me that people understand that I didn’t mean for the situation to turn out like it did,” Artest said.
“It really hurt me to see the children crying on TV, and I think about how it could have been my own kids. I also regret and apologize to fans who are upset at what happened.
“I think people know I have always tried to interact positively with fans in every arena I’ve been to. I am deeply sorry for the Pacers, people in the state of Indiana, and around the world, where there are NBA fans who have seen me turn my life around the past few years.”
