No One-Star Effort

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So here's where the Timberwolves are right now. They're playing well enough to win games, even when their franchise player struggles with shooting.

Kevin Garnett went 8 for 24 from the floor but made several key plays late and scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the surging Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 89-85 Sunday at Target Center.

The Wolves certainly weren't walking around pounding their chests afterward. With 11 games remaining, the Wolves (37-34) trail streaking Denver by 2? games for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Their four-game winning streak represents the team's longest since they won five in a row in late January.

"We're OK. We're OK," Garnett said. "We'll take it right now. Better late than never."

Garnett shot 13 for 38 in the past two games, including Saturday's 96-75 victory at New Jersey. But he made important contributions elsewhere against the Clippers, especially in the final three minutes.

With the score tied 80-80, Garnett forced Elton Brand, who scored a game-high 25 points, to travel in the low post. Then Garnett found Sam Cassell for a three-pointer. He followed that by making a shot down low, tying up Shaun Livingston and winning the tip on the jump ball.

Garnett's free throw with 55.7 seconds remaining put the Wolves ahead 86-80. And for good measure, he blocked Livingston's shot 10 seconds later.

Just when it looked as though the Wolves would put this game away, some nervous moments developed.

Bobby Simmons' three-pointer pulled the Clippers to 86-83 with 32 seconds remaining. And then the guy who is usually Mr. Automatic for the Wolves, wasn't so automatic.

Fred Hoiberg, an 89.9 percent free-throw shooter coming into the game, missed two free throws with 17 seconds left.

"I don't ever remember that happening," said Hoiberg, who had missed only nine free throws all season to that point. "I was pretty upset with myself."</div> Source