Timberwolves 91, Jazz 77
Kevin Garnett followed his season-low scoring total with an average night of 21 points.
With plenty of help from the rest of the Minnesota Timberwolves, that was enough.
Eddie Griffin had 14 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks, and Wally Szczerbiak scored 26 points to lead the Timberwolves past the Utah Jazz 91-77 Monday night.
``We just spaced the floor. We had five guys who could shoot, dribble, pass - do anything when they're asked to do it,'' Szczerbiak said. ``We had Utah's head spinning. They didn't know what to do. They didn't know who to guard.''
After a 5-5 start, Minnesota is looking like a contender - with more than just Garnett. The Wolves swept back-to-back games in Sacramento - despite only 11 points from Garnett - and Utah, and are unbeaten on a four-game road trip that wraps up Wednesday in Portland.
Minnesota closed the game with a 12-3 run, when Szczerbiak made two of his three 3-pointers to end any hopes of a Jazz comeback.
``It's going to take more than K.G. to win games,'' Griffin said. ``Before, we'd try to force feed him towards the end of the game. Now Troy (Hudson) and Wally are stepping up.''
Hudson scored nine points and drew an offensive foul as Minnesota scored nine straight points late in the fourth quarter to pull ahead for good.
Griffin had three blocks in the final period and topped his previous career high by one.
``He's always active on the defensive end. Tonight he was like a madman,'' Garnett said.
Utah scored 48 points from the lane, partly because the Jazz weren't scoring much at all from outside the paint. Utah was just 1-for-10 on 3-pointers.
Mehmet Okur led Utah with 14 points and Matt Harpring had 10 rebounds. Jarron Collins scored 10 points and Andrei Kirilenko had 10 points, four blocks and nine rebounds for the Jazz, who were just 1-for-10 from 3-point range and fell to 1-5 on the second of back-to-back games. Utah won at Portland on Sunday.
``They executed and pretty much did what they wanted to do,'' Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. ``That is what a veteran team can do and we got lost too many times.''
After Collins put Utah up 48-46 with a three-point play, Garnett and Szczerbiak combined for a 12-2 run that put the Wolves up 58-50 early in the third quarter. The Jazz made a few pushes early in the fourth, but Minnesota pulled away from the younger Jazz down the stretch.
``I think we lost our concentration a little bit defensively,'' Kirilenko said.
After Devin Brown got Utah within 72-69 with a left-handed layup, the Jazz broke down defensively and Szczerbiak was all alone in front of the Utah bench for a 3-pointer that doubled Minnesota's lead.
``Guys are getting me the ball in positions where I can do something with it,'' Szczerbiak said.
Garnett found Griffin for a dunk on Minnesota's next possession, then Szczerbiak hit a 3 from the top of the key.
Garnett picked up a loose ball and passed it to Szczerbiak on a fast break. Szczerbiak missed on a dunk, but was fouled and made both free throws. Marko Jaric saved another loose ball from going out of bounds and the Wolves got it to Garnett, who missed a layup that could have set up a three-point play.
Garnett made both shots from the line, where Minnesota was 17-for-19.
Hudson drew an offensive foul when Okur ran over him at the other end, then Szczerbiak added to Minnesota's streak with another 3-pointer. Szczerbiak pumped his fist toward the Wolves' bench as he ran back on defense.
Notes: The Jazz converted three chances for three-point plays and scored two more points on free throws for 3-second defensive violations in the first quarter. ... Both teams played on the West Coast the night before and landed in Salt Lake City around the same time early Monday. ... The Jazz were without center Greg Ostertag, who was out with back spasms.
Minnesota Timberwolves - Utah Jazz Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Minnesota Timberwolves 91
Utah Jazz 77
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