Garnett leads T-Wolves past Kings 112-100
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-04 09:37

Kevin Garnett had 30 points and 13 rebounds, Latrell Sprewell added 23 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves got another big victory for their playoff hopes, beating the Sacramento Kings 112-100 Sunday.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, left, drives around Sacramento Kings defender Kenny Thomas during the first half Sunday, April 3, 2005.[AP]

Sam Cassell scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half for the Timberwolves, who have won four straight regular-season games in Sacramento. Minnesota made 53 percent of its shots and took a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter before holding on to extend the longest current winning streak of any opponent at Arco Arena.

With their sixth victory in seven games, the Timberwolves (39-35) moved within three games of the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies, who hosted the Lakers later Sunday. Minnesota is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points for the Kings, who grabbed a season-high 24 offensive rebounds — 20 in the first half — but couldn't do much else in a comfortable win for the Timberwolves. Sacramento dropped into a tie for fifth place in the conference with the Houston Rockets, who hosted Phoenix later.

Mike Bibby scored 19 points and Cuttino Mobley added 16 for the Kings, who must win five of their final seven games to reach 50 victories for the fifth straight season. Kenny Thomas had 11 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

Minnesota made a 17-6 run in the final 4 minutes of the third quarter. Sacramento closed to 93-86 on Mobley's layup with 6:11 to play, but Sprewell scored eight points in the next 4 1/2 minutes while also playing strong defense.

After a disappointing start that cost coach Flip Saunders his job, the Timberwolves began a playoff push two weeks ago with the first of five straight victories. That winning streak ended Friday night in Phoenix, but Minnesota faces just three teams with winning records in its final eight games.

Sacramento dropped to 27-11 at home — its worst record at Arco Arena in five years. After six straight seasons without a home loss by more than 15 points, the Kings have three such defeats already this season — and they needed a late rally to avoid another one.

The Kings had a huge rebounding advantage for most of the game, but couldn't do much with it because they made just 38 percent of their shots.

"They're killing us on the boards! They're killing us!" Cassell screamed to his bench after Sacramento got six offensive rebounds on two possessions late in the first half.

The Kings had a 20-1 advantage in offensive rebounds at that point, yet Minnesota still went into halftime with a 47-46 lead on Sprewell's layup at the buzzer.

Mobley and Thomas got technical fouls in the fourth quarter for arguing. ... Sacramento outrebounded the Wolves 38-21 in the first half — a season-high in a half for the Kings. They also fell two short of the franchise record for offensive rebounds in a half, set Jan. 25, 1986, against Portland. ... Jimmy Jam, the Minneapolis music producer who's a courtside regular at the Timberwolves' home games, watched this game from courtside seats.

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