GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: MINNESOTA (2-14) at ATLANTA (7-10)

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 80
ATLANTA 82 2:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 83
ATLANTA 85 1:10 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA MINNESOTA 89
ATLANTA 90 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 15 25 27 22 89
ATLANTA 29 24 8 29 90 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIN - CRAIG SMITH 20, MARKO JARIC 18, AL
JEFFERSON 17
ATL - JOSH SMITH 28, JOE JOHNSON 21, MARVIN
WILLIAMS 20</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (89) AT ATLANTA (90)

MINNESOTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S TELFAIR G 32:07 4-10 0-0 0 1 1 4 4 1 2 8
G BUCKNER G 10:26 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2
C BREWER F 44:17 3-15 0-0 4 14 18 5 5 4 0 6
R GOMES F 8:26 1-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 3
A JEFFERSON C 41:20 8-25 1-4 3 5 8 2 1 2 2 17
M JARIC 38:42 6-13 5-5 2 6 8 9 3 3 5 18
C SMITH 27:15 9-15 2-2 7 2 9 1 4 0 3 20
R MCCANTS 17:33 3-6 3-3 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 11
M DOLEAC 17:04 2-4 0-0 2 3 5 1 5 0 1 4
C RICHARD 2:50 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
M MADSEN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
G GREEN DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-95 11-14 20 33 53 23 24 10 17 89
(.389) (.786) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 18 (0 PTS)

ATLANTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A JOHNSON G 30:24 2-3 2-2 1 1 2 6 1 1 0 6
J JOHNSON G 46:57 8-21 4-5 2 7 9 4 0 2 4 21
J SMITH F 44:36 11-19 6-7 1 6 7 2 3 2 4 28
M WILLIAMS F 34:06 5-11 10-15 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 20
A HOFORD C 35:19 2-5 4-4 3 12 15 0 4 1 2 8
J CHILDRESS 16:21 1-5 3-4 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 5
S WILLIAMS 14:24 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 2
A LAW 14:11 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
S STOUDAMIRE 3:33 0-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
M WEST 0:09 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Z PACHULIA DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 30-74 29-37 8 31 39 17 12 8 13 90
(.405) (.784) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

MINNESOTA 15 25 27 22 - 89
ATLANTA 29 24 8 29 - 90

BLOCKED SHOTS: MINNESOTA - M DOLEAC, R GOMES, A JEFFERSON. ATLANTA -
J SMITH 7, A JOHNSON 2, A HOFORD 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MINNESOTA 4-10 (.400), G BUCKNER 0-1, C BREWER 0-
1, R GOMES 1-2, M JARIC 1-2, R MCCANTS 2-4. ATLANTA 1-11 (.091), A JOHNSON 0-
1, J JOHNSON 1-5, J CHILDRESS 0-2, S STOUDAMIRE 0-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: ATLANTA - J SMITH.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, JASON PHILLIPS, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 12,232. T - 2:26.</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (89)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Telfair 32:07 4-10 0-0 0-1 4 4 8
G Buckner 10:26 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
C Brewer 44:17 3-15 0-0 4-18 5 5 6
R Gomes 8:26 1-2 0-0 1-2 0 0 3
A Jefferson 41:20 8-25 1-4 3-8 2 1 17
M Jaric 38:42 6-13 5-5 2-8 9 3 18
C Smith 27:15 9-15 2-2 7-9 1 4 20
R McCants 17:33 3-6 3-3 0-1 1 0 11
M Doleac 17:04 2-4 0-0 2-5 1 5 4
C Richard 2:50 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 0 0
M Madsen DNP - COACH'S DECISION
G Green DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-95 11-14 20-53 23 24 89
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.786. 3-Point Goals:
4-10, .400 (G Buckner 0-1, C Brewer 0-1, R
Gomes 1-2, M Jaric 1-2, R McCants 2-4). Team
Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:3 (M Doleac, R
Gomes, A Jefferson). Turnovers:17 (M Jaric 5,
C Smith 3, G Buckner 2, S Telfair 2, A
Jefferson 2, M Doleac, R Gomes, R McCants).
Steals: 10 (C Brewer 4, M Jaric 3, A
Jefferson 2, S Telfair).


ATLANTA (90)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 30:24 2-3 2-2 1-2 6 1 6
J Johnson 46:57 8-21 4-5 2-9 4 0 21
J Smith 44:36 11-19 6-7 1-7 2 3 28
M Williams 34:06 5-11 10-15 1-3 1 1 20
A Hoford 35:19 2-5 4-4 3-15 0 4 8
J Childress 16:21 1-5 3-4 0-1 1 0 5
S Williams 14:24 1-3 0-0 0-1 1 1 2
A Law 14:11 0-3 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
S Stoudamire 3:33 0-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
M West 0:09 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Z Pachulia DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-74 29-37 8-39 17 12 90
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.405, FT-.784. 3-Point Goals:
1-11, .091 (A Johnson 0-1, J Johnson 1-5, J
Childress 0-2, S Stoudamire 0-3). Team
Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:11 (J Smith 7, A
Johnson 2, A Hoford 2). Turnovers:13 (J
Johnson 4, J Smith 4, A Hoford 2, S Williams,
M Williams, A Law). Steals: 8 (J Johnson 2, J
Smith 2, A Johnson, A Hoford, M Williams, J
Childress).

-------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 15 25 27 22 - 89
ATLANTA 29 24 8 29 - 90
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Atlanta - 1 (J Smith, 4:22
2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 12,232. T: 2:26.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Jason Phillips, Tom
Washington.</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (89) AT ATLANTA (90)

MINNESOTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S TELFAIR G 32:07 4-10 0-0 0 1 1 4 4 1 2 8
G BUCKNER G 10:26 1-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2
C BREWER F 44:17 3-15 0-0 4 14 18 5 5 4 0 6
R GOMES F 8:26 1-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 3
A JEFFERSON C 41:20 8-25 1-4 3 5 8 2 1 2 2 17
M JARIC 38:42 6-13 5-5 2 6 8 9 3 3 5 18
C SMITH 27:15 9-15 2-2 7 2 9 1 4 0 3 20
R MCCANTS 17:33 3-6 3-3 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 11
M DOLEAC 17:04 2-4 0-0 2 3 5 1 5 0 1 4
C RICHARD 2:50 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
M MADSEN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
G GREEN DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-95 11-14 20 33 53 23 24 10 17 89
(.389) (.786) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 18 (24 PTS)

ATLANTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A JOHNSON G 30:24 2-3 2-2 1 1 2 6 1 1 0 6
J JOHNSON G 46:57 8-21 4-5 2 7 9 4 0 2 4 21
J SMITH F 44:36 11-19 6-7 1 6 7 2 3 2 4 28
M WILLIAMS F 34:06 5-11 10-15 2 2 4 1 1 1 1 20
A HOFORD C 35:19 2-5 4-4 3 12 15 0 4 1 2 8
J CHILDRESS 16:21 1-5 3-4 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 5
S WILLIAMS 14:24 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 2
A LAW 14:11 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
S STOUDAMIRE 3:33 0-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
M WEST 0:09 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Z PACHULIA DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 30-74 29-37 9 31 40 17 12 8 13 90
(.405) (.784) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 13 (10 PTS)

MINNESOTA 15 25 27 22 - 89
ATLANTA 29 24 8 29 - 90

BLOCKED SHOTS: MINNESOTA - M DOLEAC, R GOMES, A JEFFERSON. ATLANTA -
J SMITH 7, A JOHNSON 2, A HOFORD 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MINNESOTA 4-10 (.400), G BUCKNER 0-1, C BREWER 0-
1, R GOMES 1-2, M JARIC 1-2, R MCCANTS 2-4. ATLANTA 1-11 (.091), A JOHNSON 0-
1, J JOHNSON 1-5, J CHILDRESS 0-2, S STOUDAMIRE 0-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: ATLANTA - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, JASON PHILLIPS, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 12,232. T - 2:24.</div>

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (89)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Telfair 32:07 4-10 0-0 0-1 4 4 8
G Buckner 10:26 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
C Brewer 44:17 3-15 0-0 4-18 5 5 6
R Gomes 8:26 1-2 0-0 1-2 0 0 3
A Jefferson 41:20 8-25 1-4 3-8 2 1 17
M Jaric 38:42 6-13 5-5 2-8 9 3 18
C Smith 27:15 9-15 2-2 7-9 1 4 20
R McCants 17:33 3-6 3-3 0-1 1 0 11
M Doleac 17:04 2-4 0-0 2-5 1 5 4
C Richard 2:50 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 0 0
M Madsen DNP - COACH'S DECISION
G Green DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-95 11-14 20-53 23 24 89
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.786. 3-Point Goals:
4-10, .400 (G Buckner 0-1, C Brewer 0-1, R
Gomes 1-2, M Jaric 1-2, R McCants 2-4). Team
Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:3 (M Doleac, R
Gomes, A Jefferson). Turnovers:17 (M Jaric 5,
C Smith 3, G Buckner 2, S Telfair 2, A
Jefferson 2, M Doleac, R Gomes, R McCants).
Steals: 10 (C Brewer 4, M Jaric 3, A
Jefferson 2, S Telfair).


ATLANTA (90)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 30:24 2-3 2-2 1-2 6 1 6
J Johnson 46:57 8-21 4-5 2-9 4 0 21
J Smith 44:36 11-19 6-7 1-7 2 3 28
M Williams 34:06 5-11 10-15 2-4 1 1 20
A Hoford 35:19 2-5 4-4 3-15 0 4 8
J Childress 16:21 1-5 3-4 0-1 1 0 5
S Williams 14:24 1-3 0-0 0-1 1 1 2
A Law 14:11 0-3 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
S Stoudamire 3:33 0-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
M West 0:09 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Z Pachulia DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-74 29-37 9-40 17 12 90
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.405, FT-.784. 3-Point Goals:
1-11, .091 (A Johnson 0-1, J Johnson 1-5, J
Childress 0-2, S Stoudamire 0-3). Team
Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:11 (J Smith 7, A
Johnson 2, A Hoford 2). Turnovers:13 (J
Johnson 4, J Smith 4, A Hoford 2, S Williams,
M Williams, A Law). Steals: 8 (J Johnson 2, J
Smith 2, A Johnson, A Hoford, M Williams, J
Childress).

-------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 15 25 27 22 - 89
ATLANTA 29 24 8 29 - 90
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Atlanta - 1 (Defensive
Three, 4:23 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 12,232. T: 2:24.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Jason Phillips, Tom
Washington.</div>

 

Re: NBA: MINNESOTA (2-14) at ATLANTA (7-10)

That was a CRAZY ending, unfortunately not resulting in Minnesota's favor. Here was the last 4 plays for those who didn't get a chance to see this game:</p>

Play 1: Marko Jaric scores a layup out of the inbounds off a beautifully drawn up play. They made it look as though Jaric was going to use a screen, but he cut in front of it instead and had a wide open lane. They passed it into him right under the basket, and he put it in. Wolves up 1.</p>

Play 2: Josh Smith banks a fall-away over Telfair. Hawks up 1.</p>

Play 3: Mark Jaric takes it to the basket and lays it up off the glass and in with 2.2 seconds left. Wolves up 1!</p>

Final Play: Joe Johnson hits a pull-up jumper at the Buzzer. Hawks win 90-89.</p>

If Minnesota just would have just come out with any signs of energy in the first half, they could have won the game. They had a GREAT third quarter and hung in there to the end, but they unfortunately came up with another loss.</p>

Corey Brewer and Craig Smith were terrific, though. Because of them, Gomes only played 8-9 minutes. Smith was a force inside, and the only real bright spot for the Wolves in the first half. Brewer couldn't make a shot, or a layup for that matter, but he was absolutely ALL OVER the place throughout the entire game. He was a hound on the glass, poked multiple balls free, played the passing lanes, took it coast to coast, and outworked everybody on every possession. What a game by Brewer. His stat line is great (6 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals), but you really had to watch the game to really appreciate his efforts.</p>

Tough loss. 2-15</p>

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Joe Johnson made sure that the AtlantaHawks did not suffer another embarrassing loss.


Johnson scored 21 points and hit the game-winning jumper at thebuzzer as the Hawks squeaked by the Minnesota Timberwolves,90-89, on Thursday.


Josh Smith scored a game-high 28 points and blocked seven shots,and Marvin Williams scored 20 for Atlanta, which led by 13 athalftime.


The Hawks, however, nearly squandered the lead to theTimberwolves, who had dropped five straight.


It would have been the second straight game the Hawks had blowna strong first half to fall to defeat. On Tuesday, Atlanta ledDetroit by nine points at halftime before being outscored,30-13, in the third quarter, losing dropping a 106-95 decisionto the Pistons.


It nearly happened again before Johnson, a 2007 All-Star, savedthe day.


With Atlanta trailing, 89-88, with less than three seconds left,Johnson caught an inbounds pass, drove to his right beforepulling up from the elbow for a shot that hit all net as thetime clock expired.


With the score tied at 85-85 after the Timberwolves' AlJefferson made a jumper with 59 seconds left, Johnson split apair of free throws to give the Hawks a one-point lead. Howeveron an inbounds play, Marko Jaric made a layup off a nice passfrom rookie Corey Brewer with 20 seconds on the clock to givethe Wolves an 87-86 edge.


After a timeout, Smith hit an off-balance bank shot with sevenseconds left to again put the Hawks up by one. It looked as ifMinnesota would win the game when Jaric drove from the top ofthe key past Smith for a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining tomake it, 89-88.


Atlanta had full control of this contest earlier in the game.The Hawks were cruising against the Timberwolves, opening thecontest by scoring 26 of the first 33 points before taking a53-40 advantage into the intermission.


But the resurgent Wolves outscored Atlanta, 27-8, in the thirdto take a 67-61 advantage entering the final quarter. The eightpoints in the third matched a franchise low for the Hawks.

Reserve Craig Smith scored a season-high 20 points and Jaric had18 for the Timberwolves, who shot 39 percent (37-of-95).

Jefferson scored 17 points and Brewer had six points and aseason-high 18 rebounds for Minnesota, which has a league-worst2-15 record.

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Joe Johnson made sure that the AtlantaHawks did not suffer another embarrassing loss.


Johnson scored 21 points and hit the game-winning jumper at thebuzzer as the Hawks squeaked by the Minnesota Timberwolves,90-89, on Thursday.


Josh Smith scored a game-high 28 points and blocked seven shots,and Marvin Williams scored 20 for Atlanta, which led by 13 athalftime.


The Hawks, however, nearly squandered the lead to theTimberwolves, who have dropped five straight.


It would have been the second straight game the Hawks had blowna strong first half to fall to defeat. On Tuesday, Atlanta ledDetroit by nine points at halftime before being outscored,30-13, in the third quarter, losing a 106-95 decision to thePistons.


It nearly happened again before Johnson, a 2007 All-Star, savedthe day.


With Atlanta trailing, 89-88, with less than three seconds left,Johnson caught an inbounds pass, drove to his right beforepulling up from the elbow for a shot that hit all net as thetime clock expired.


With the score tied at 85-85 after the Timberwolves' AlJefferson made a jumper with 59 seconds left, Johnson split apair of free throws to give the Hawks a one-point lead. Howeveron an inbounds play, Marko Jaric made a layup off a nice passfrom rookie Corey Brewer with 20 seconds on the clock to givethe Wolves an 87-86 edge.


After a timeout, Smith hit an off-balance bank shot with sevenseconds left to again put the Hawks up by one. It looked as ifMinnesota would win the game when Jaric drove from the top ofthe key past Smith for a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining tomake it, 89-88.


Atlanta had full control of this contest earlier in the game.The Hawks were cruising against the Timberwolves, opening thecontest by scoring 26 of the first 33 points before taking a53-40 advantage into the intermission.


But the resurgent Wolves outscored Atlanta, 27-8, in the thirdto take a 67-61 advantage entering the final quarter. The eightpoints in the third matched a franchise low for the Hawks.

Reserve Craig Smith scored a season-high 20 points and Jaric had18 for the Timberwolves, who shot 39 percent (37-of-95).

Jefferson scored 17 points and Brewer had six points and aseason-high 18 rebounds for Minnesota, which has a league-worst2-15 record.

 

NBA: MINNESOTA at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
MINNESOTA 89
ATLANTA 90 FINAL</div>

 

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Joe Johnson made sure that the AtlantaHawks did not suffer another embarrassing loss.


Johnson scored 21 points and hit the game-winning jumper at thebuzzer as the Hawks squeaked by the Minnesota Timberwolves,90-89, on Thursday.


Josh Smith scored a game-high 28 points and blocked seven shots,and Marvin Williams scored 20 for Atlanta, which led by 13 athalftime.


The Hawks, however, nearly squandered the lead to theTimberwolves, who have dropped five straight.


It would have been the second straight game the Hawks had letthe game get away immediately after the intermission. OnTuesday, Atlanta was outscored, 30-13, in the third quarter enroute to dropping a 106-95 decision to the Pistons.

"I think we really made this game a lot more difficult than weshould have," Johnson said. "If we kept working hard, we couldhave won by 20 points. Instead, we had to come up with a greatshot at the end."


With Atlanta trailing, 89-88, with less than three seconds left,Johnson caught an inbounds pass, drove to his right beforepulling up from the elbow for a shot that hit all net as thetime clock expired.


"(My shots) weren't falling," said Johnson, who was shootingjust 35 percent (7-for-20) from the field before hitting thegame winner. "My teammates and the coaching staff all had faithin me. I got a good look at the end and made the shot."

"He's a great player," Hawks guard Anthony Johnson said. "Thatlast basket was an unbelievable shot by our star player to takeus home."


With the score tied at 85-85 after the Timberwolves' AlJefferson made a jumper with 59 seconds left, Johnson split apair of free throws to give the Hawks a one-point lead. Howeveron an inbounds play, Marko Jaric made a layup off a nice passfrom rookie Corey Brewer with 20 seconds on the clock to givethe Wolves an 87-86 edge.


After a timeout, Smith hit an off-balance bank shot with sevenseconds left to again put the Hawks up by one. It looked as ifMinnesota would win the game when Jaric drove from the top ofthe key past Smith for a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining tomake it, 89-88.


"We gave a great effort, which helped us get back in the game,"Jaric said. "Unfortunately, at the end of the game, they had abit more luck. I think we executed well and played gooddefense, but Joe Johnson hit a tough shot to give them the win."

Atlanta had full control of this contest earlier in the game.The Hawks were cruising against the Timberwolves, opening thecontest by scoring 26 of the first 33 points before taking a53-40 advantage into the intermission.


But the resurgent Wolves outscored Atlanta, 27-8, in the thirdto take a 67-61 advantage entering the final quarter.

"We showed some signs of life in the second half," Timberwolvesacting coach Jerry Sichting said. "But we got down early, whichmade it hard to overcome tonight. This is a tough loss toswallow because I thought we should have won, but sometimes theball doesn't bounce your way."


Atlanta shot just 20-percent (3-for-15) from the field in thethird quarter to match a franchise-low for points in a quarterwith eight.


"We were just flat, and I thought that we were just going toroll over this team," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "All theseNBA teams, they've got pride. I know Minnesota is strugglingto win ballgames, but they play hard. They showed that tonight,and took it all the way to the end."


Johnson, who was held to just five points on 2-for-10 shootingon Tuesday, also found his groove early on in this one. Heconnected on his first three shots, surpassing his last game'soutput before 10 minutes had been played in the contest.

But like the rest of the club, Johnson struggled in the third,missing all four of his shots. Fortunately for the Hawks, hemade the big one when it mattered.


"(The ending) just about gave me a heart attack," Woodson said."I don't think we had a third quarter that bad this season,where we just didn't do anything right on both ends of thefloor. We dug a hole, but guys kept scrapping at the end."

Reserve Craig Smith scored a season-high 20 points and Jaric had18 for the Timberwolves, who shot 39 percent (37-of-95).

Jefferson scored 17 points and Brewer had six points and aseason-high 18 rebounds for Minnesota, which has a league-worst2-15 record.