Timberwolves top Suns 97-93
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-04 13:31

Kevin Garnett had 23 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves used a tough defense to snap the Phoenix Suns' nine-game winning streak 97-93 on Friday night.

Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire soars through the air to slam dunk the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, in Phoenix. Stoudemire scored 28 points in a losing effort as the Timberwolves defeated the Suns 97-93. [AP]

Sam Cassell scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves win their fourth in a row and hand the Suns just their third defeat in 16 games.

Garnett had 11 offensive boards, and has 65 rebounds in the last four games.

Latrell Sprewell scored 22, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and Wally Szczerbiak added 14 points for Minnesota, 3-0 on a four-game road trip. Eddie Griffin had 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Amare Stoudemire had 28 points but only four rebounds, Shawn Marion 21 points and 18 rebounds and Steve Nash 22 points and eight assists for the Suns, who were 2-for-18 from 3-point range.

The Suns, one victory shy of their best start in franchise history, led 79-77 after Casey Jacobsen made one of two free throws with 7:42 left. But Fred Hoiberg and Griffin sank 3s to ignite a 14-4 run that put Minnesota ahead 91-83 on Sprewell's fastbreak layup with 3:37 remaining. The Suns committed three turnovers in the decisive run.

Phoenix's small lineup ran into big problems against the physical Timberwolves, who outrebounded the Suns 59-47, 22-14 on the offensive boards.

Sprewell sank consecutive 3-pointers and Garnett made a 10-foot bank shot in a 6-1 spurt in the final 56 seconds of the half to give the Timberwolves a 50-46 lead at the break.

Phoenix briefly got its familiar fast game going in an 8-0 spurt that put the Suns up 65-59 on Nash's 14-foot fadeaway jumper. But Sprewell's 3-pointer and Griffin's three-point play quickly made it 65-all. Stoudemire's baseline stuff on a three-point play and Nash's fastbreak basket got the Suns up 70-69 after three quarters.

Garnett had 14 points and 11 rebounds — seven on the offensive boards — in the first half, and Griffin had 10 rebounds in the first two quarters.

Stoudemire scored 17 in the first half but just one rebound. Both teams struggled from the field in the first two quarters, the Suns shooting 39 percent and the Timberwolves 43 percent.

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