Wolves top Lakers 98-96 to survive
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-30 11:32

Kevin Garnett's survival instinct was stronger than the Lakers' finishing touch. Garnett had 30 points and 19 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves avoided elimination from the Western Conference finals with a 98-96 victory over Los Angeles in Game 5 Saturday night.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant tries to drive with Minnesota Timberwolves' Darrick Martin defending in the first quarter of game 5 of the Western Conference Finals Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Minneapolis. [AP]

Latrell Sprewell scored 28 points and Fred Hoiberg added 14 for the Timberwolves, who prevented the Lakers from winning a potential series-ending game for the first time since Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant had won their last 12 clinchers, but the Timberwolves avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season. A raucous home crowd cheered another draining performance by Garnett, who played every position and sat out for just 2 1/2 minutes.

Garnett also hit five free throws in the final 2:04 as Minnesota held on to a small lead. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the final score close.

Bryant scored 23 points, and Karl Malone and Derek Fisher added 17 apiece for the Lakers, who hold a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 in Los Angeles on Monday night.

Only seven teams in NBA history have recovered from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series, and the Lakers have never blown such a lead.

Before fouling out with 5.3 seconds left, O'Neal scored 17 points on just 11 shots.

It was a strange game all around for the Lakers, who were extraordinarily loose before the game — coach Phil Jackson even said his team was "giddy."

But the Lakers lost their focus late in the first half and allowed 17 unanswered points by Minnesota. The Lakers fell behind 86-70 in the fourth quarter before scoring 10 straight points and causing grumbling in the crowd, but Hoiberg hit a difficult jumper while being fouled by Bryant with 2:29 left. Garnett did the rest with his ball-handling and free throws.

Injured All-Star Sam Cassell didn't suit up for the Timberwolves, but Hoiberg and Wally Szczerbiak hit big outside shots — and Sprewell overcame his shooting struggles for his biggest game of the series.

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