Timberwolves edge Celtics 99-97
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-07 10:47

Latrell Sprewell made a runner with 0.9 seconds remaining to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Celtics 99-97 on Sunday, giving coach Kevin McHale a victory in his first game on the sidelines in Boston.

Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett (21) shoots over Boston Celtics' Mark Blount (30) during the second quarter in Boston, Sunday, March 6, 2005. [AP]

McHale, who took over as Timberwolves coach for the fired Flip Saunders, played his entire 13-year, Hall of Fame career in green and white. He helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships before taking over as Minnesota's vice president of basketball operations in 1995.

Kevin Garnett had 21 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists for the Wolves, who handed the Celtics their first loss since the return of Antoine Walker. Wally Szczerbiak added 20 points.

Walker had 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Boston and had a chance to give the Celtics the lead with 1:43 left, but missed the first of two foul shots. He made the second to tie the game at 97.

Ricky Davis scored 22 points to pace Boston, which had won four straight after reacquiring Walker before the trading deadline. Gary Payton, who was traded for Walker but re-signed with Boston after being waived by Atlanta, added 17 points and six assists.

Minnesota limited Paul Pierce to 12 points on 6-of-16 shooting, but he did have nine assists.

The Celtics used a 10-4 spurt to take an 83-76 lead with 8:45 left. Delonte West and Mark Blount each scored four points during the stretch.

But the Wolves later answered with a 10-4 run of their own and took an 88-87 lead on Fred Hoiberg's 3-pointer with 6:02 to play. Szczerbiak's three-point play with 4 minutes left extended Minnesota's lead to 94-89.

Davis answered with a three-point play for Boston 36 seconds later and his jump shot with 2:49 left gave the Celtics a 96-95 lead.

Garnett followed with a jumper in the lane to put Minnesota back up 97-96.

Garnett scored 12 of his points in the third quarter, but the Celtics countered with a 7-1 run midway through the period. Pierce's layup with 41.7 seconds on the clock gave his team a 73-72 entering the fourth.

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