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Timberwolves hold back Rockets 94-88
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-30 13:37

Kevin Garnett scored six of his 27 points in the last two minutes, and Sam Cassell added 24 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 94-88 victory over the Rockets on Monday night.


Minnesota Timberwolves' Wally Szczerbiak (10), of Spain, and Michael Olowokandi, right, of Nigeria, battle Houston Rockets' Yao Ming for a rebound during the fourth quarter Monday, March 29, 2004 in Houston. The Timberwolves beat the Rockets 94-88. [Reuters]
Maurice Taylor, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley had 17 points apiece for Houston.

Minnesota had lost four straight games in Houston since a 90-88 victory on Nov. 3, 2001.

Garnett's two free throws gave Minnesota an 88-86 lead with 41 seconds to play, but Francis tied it seven seconds later with a 14-foot jumper.

Garnett hit a 10-foot fadeaway jumper with 18 seconds left to put Minnesota back on top. Yao Ming missed a shot just inside the top of the circle with 10 seconds left, and Lattrell Sprewell hit two free throws with 8 seconds remaining to wrap it up.

Cassell hit two more free throws with one second to play for the final score.

After a back-and-forth third period, Minnesota scored nine straight points, including the last six by Wally Szczerbiak, to take a 79-70 lead with 6:53 remaining.

But Houston scored 10 straight points to regain the lead at 80-79 with 3:20 to play. Baskets by Taylor and Yao made it 84-81 with 2:18 to play.

A 9-2 run gave Minnesota a 22-12 lead with 3:33 to play the first quarter. Garnett scored 10 and Cassell eight in the period as the Timberwolves led 28-20 to start the second quarter.

Yao and Taylor scored four points each in a 9-0 run that gave Houston its first lead of the night at 36-35 with 5:20 left in the first half. The lead changed hands three more times before Houston took a 43-42 edge into the break.

When Francis hit one of two free throws to give Houston a 65-64 lead with 2:21 to play in the third quarter, all five Houston starters had 12 points apiece. Francis had the Rockets' final four points of the period to bring them to a 68-68 tie after three.

 
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