NBA Wrap: Timberwolves take revenge with win over Spurs
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-24 13:55

The Minnesota Timberwolves surged three games ahead of the second-place San Antonio Spurs with an 86-81 victory in a clash of Midwest Division frontrunners Tuesday.

San Antonio Spurs guards Tony Parker (9) and Bruce Bowen (12) grab a rebound over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen (35) during the first half of their NBA game in Minneapolis, March 23, 2004. The Timberwolves won 86-81. [Reuters]

It was payback time for host Minnesota, which was humbled 106-86 in San Antonio last Thursday.

The Timberwolves, who locked up their eighth straight post-season berth Monday, received 27 points from team leader and MVP hopeful Kevin Garnett.

Garnett, who joined an elite group of 17 players with 13,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists in a one-sided win over Denver Sunday, also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.

Latrell Sprewell added 20 points and Sam Cassell, the third of Minnesota's big three, had 14.

Cassell pitched in with 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double of the season, and the third of his 11-year career.

Reigning MVP Tim Duncan paced the Spurs, who won the second and fourth periods, with 26 points.

Hedo Turkoglu added 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds. It was San Antonio's fourth successive road loss. In New Orleans, Baron Davis finished two assists shy of a triple-double as the Hornets snapped the Detroit Pistons' eight-game winning streak with an 82-81 victory.

In Cleveland, Joe Johnson poured in 31 points to carry the lowly Phoenix Suns (news) to an upset 103-86 triumph over the Cavaliers.

In Memphis, Pau Gasol picked up 29 points as the Grizzlies recorded a 95-86 win over the Toronto Raptors, who shot only 33 percent.

In Chicago, Lucious Harris, replacing the injured Jason Kidd, notched 19 points and 10 rebounds as the New Jersey Nets outlasted the Bulls 84-81.

In Utah, Andrei Kirilenko had 19 points and eight rebounds as the Jazz defeated the Washington Wizards 85-77.

In Sacramento, the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a season-high five-game losing streak with a 112-101 win over the Western Conference-leading Kings.

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