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Timberwolves beat Kings 86-74 to take 3-2 lead
With Latrell Sprewell slashing and scoring, the Minnesota Timberwolves moved within one win of the Western Conference finals. Sprewell had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who beat the Sacramento Kings 86-74 Friday night to take a 3-2 lead in their conference semifinal series.
Brad Miller was ejected late in the third quarter without scoring, and Chris Webber labored for 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting. Leading scorer Peja Stojakovic disappeared once again, going 0-for-4 in the second half and finishing with 12 points for the Kings.
Sacramento's much-celebrated offense missed two-thirds of its shots — going 27-for-81.
Much of the credit goes to Minnesota's defense. After a woeful performance in Game 4, the Wolves were aggressive and tenacious at both ends of the court.
Kevin Garnett, who had seven points, three rebounds and seven turnovers in the first half, wound up with 23 points and 12 rebounds. He helped hound Webber and Miller on defense, too. The pair combined for 48 points in Game 4.
The series has become increasingly testy in the last two games, and Miller, one of Sacramento's most emotional players, lost his temper late in the third quarter.
Minnesota's Darrick Martin collided with Miller while fighting through a screen and hit him in the midsection. Martin fell face-first to the floor, and an enraged Miller went over and shoved him hard in the back. Referee Steve Javie immediately gave both players a technical foul and ejected both.
Sam Cassell had only three points and seven assists for the Wolves, but Sprewell more than made up the difference.
He hit back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the third to give Minnesota a 10-point cushion, and his last long-range shot gave the Wolves an 84-71 lead with 1:33 left.
Webber, whose game-high 28 points and tight defense on Garnett were keys to Sacramento's series-tying victory in Game 4, had a horrible first half.
He missed all five shots he took, committed three fouls and didn't score. Twenty seconds into the third quarter, Webber picked up his fourth foul and gave referee Derrick Stafford a long, bewildered glance.
Midway through the third quarter, he hobbled off with tightness in his right calf before returning three minutes later.
Any advantage Minnesota gained by shutting down one-third of Sacramento's top three was negated by Garnett's struggles and Cassell's silence.
Cassell picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and played only 11 minutes in the first half. He grimaced when he was on the court and wore a bulky wrap on his lower back when he sat on the bench.
In Game 4, the Wolves turned the ball over 24 times and settled too many times for one-pass-and-a-shot possessions. Though the aesthetics weren't a whole lot better this time, Minnesota was consistently aggressive and much smarter with its shots selection.
Sprewell made it his priority to take the ball hard to the hoop. He had 10 points in the second quarter, and his fourth of five driving layups gave the Wolves their biggest lead of the first half at 32-26.
The Kings led by as many as nine in the first period, but the Wolves closed it with an 11-1 run. Both teams were ragged after Wednesday's game, and the second quarter included some very bad stretches. Minnesota went more than 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal, and Sacramento had a drought of more than four minutes. |
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