Currently: - Game info: 9:00 pm EST Wed Feb 11, 2004
- TV: FSN, KJZZ
The Minnesota Timberwolves were disgusted with themselves after a one-point loss this weekend.
They made sure not to have a repeat performance Tuesday. They’ll now look to enter the All-Star break on a positive note when they meet the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.
Coming off Sunday’s 99-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Timberwolves jumped out to an early lead Tuesday and never trailed in a 96-84 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Kevin Garnett finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as 17 in the first half.
“That’s what a loss did to us,” Garnett said. “We had to re-evaluate ourselves. It made us more hungry.”
Garnett had his fifth 30-point performance in six February games, and Latrell Sprewell added 17. Forward Gary Trent scored 15 off the bench.
“Our team just keeps our composure,” said Sam Cassell, who had eight points and 12 assists after going scoreless for the first 27-plus minutes.
Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders put his team through an intense, training camp-style practice Monday as the team tried to make amends for the disappointing loss to Memphis.
Saunders said he was pleased with the way Minnesota took control against the Clippers, heaping extra praise on his All-Star power forward.
“You’re always concerned when a guy is scoring that he’ll go searching for something, but he didn’t do that,” Saunders said of Garnett. “He took what they gave him.”
The Jazz return home after sweeping a two-game road trip to Phoenix and Portland. Utah had lost four straight before the modest win streak.
Carlos Arroyo scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday, and Andrei Kirilenko also scored 20 to help the Jazz hold off the Portland Trail Blazers 86-81.
Arroyo made 10 straight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Canis Hoopus
SLC Dunk
