Garnett Guarantees 5th Win in a Row

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For more than a week, as the Timberwolves found their stride, the party line was: the more the merrier. Spreading the wealth? Ideal. Sharing the scoring? Great.

Still, it's nice to be reminded, now and then, just how dominant Kevin Garnett can be.

Refer to the final five minutes of their 95-82 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night at Target Center, a game that extended the Wolves' winning streak to five games while ending the Lakers' streak at four.

The Timberwolves' focus, crisp much of the game, was a bit blurry. An 11-point lead had dwindled to seven when Garnett checked back into the game. Seconds later it was down to five, thanks to a Lamar Odom bank shot.

The sound the announced 18,739 fans heard in the next few moments was a very big door slamming shut.

The Wolves outscored Los Angeles 15-7 to end the game. Garnett scored seven of those points. Of the Wolves' final seven baskets, Garnett had three of them and assisted on two more.

The result was his first 30-point performance of the season to go with eight rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Ho, hum.

"That's what the guy does," Wolves guard Marko Jaric said of Garnett.

It being his first season with the Wolves, watching Garnett reach out and grab hold of a game still has some novelty for Jaric.

"He took the game over," Jaric said. "He hit every important shot and sent the Lakers home, you know?"

That said, Saturday's victory was not a one-man show. Far from it.

Wally Szczerbiak continued his torrid pace, scoring 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting. He was right there with Garnett, razor-sharp, slicing to the hoop for six fourth-quarter points; he and Garnett each scored 16 points in the second half. Eddie Griffin, down and nearly out with the flu, pulled an IV out of his arm, went out and pulled down 12 rebounds and had four blocks, with six and two in the fourth quarter. Jaric, meanwhile, had 12 points, a season-high nine assists, and six rebounds.

Oh, and then there was the team defense. Remember when the Wolves' work on the pick-and-roll used to be compared to a matador? No more.

"We're taking it personally not to allow guys to just walk into the lane," Szczerbiak said.

Said Garnett: "That was the priority coming into training camp. That is a priority every time we step on the practice floor. ... The focus, the consistency, on defense has to be there. Right now it's winning games for us."

And, finally, coach Dwane Casey: "That's the closest I've seen to where I want to be defensively. Tonight was pretty close."</div>

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