Kevin Garnett scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a fallaway jumper to beat the shot clock with 10.9 seconds left, in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 114-113 victory over the Kings in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series Monday night.
With several clutch baskets, Garnett saved Minnesota from a disheartening loss and reclaimed home-court advantage in the series. When Peja Stojakovic's final shot fell short, Garnett also led the Timberwolves' joyous charge off the court.
With their third win this season at Arco Arena, the Timberwolves took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Sacramento.
PHOTO: AFP
Led by a sensational game from Stojakovic, who scored 22 of his 29 points after the third quarter, the Kings erased a 14-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, then forced OT by swarming Garnett at the buzzer. The comeback even bested Minnesota's rally from a 10-point deficit in Game 2.
Stojakovic traded scores with Garnett in an unbearably tense overtime. But after Latrell Sprewell hit a jumper with 59 seconds left to claim a one-point lead for Minnesota, Chris Webber made a turnover.
Minnesota nearly ran out of time for a shot, but Garnett jumped backward and dropped a difficult jumper.
PHOTO: EPA
Stojakovic hit two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, and Garnett was called for traveling two seconds later. Sacramento got the ball to Stojakovic, but he failed to draw a foul on an awkward jumper shortly before time expired.
Extra time is nothing new to these clubs: Earlier in the season, the teams set an NBA record with their fourth consecutive overtime game.
Earlier in Miami, the Miami Heat handed Indiana its first loss of the postseason, beating the Pacers 94-87 Monday night to trail Indiana 2-1 in their best-of-seven series.
Dwyane Wade scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Lamar Odom added 16 points for the Heat, who extended their home winning streak to 17 games.
Game 4 is Wednesday night in Miami, where the Heat haven't lost since March 2.
The home-court helped Miami beat the Pacers for the first time in 12 tries. This one was close until the end.
The Heat used a 7-0 run to take a 79-72 lead with 2:55 to play. Wade hit a pull-up jumper at the foul line, then dunked over Jermaine O'Neal. He sliced down the lane, took a pass from Odom and jumped over one of the league's best defenders.
Caron Butler hit two free throws, and Odom added another to cap the Heat's run. They got plenty of help from the Pacers, who made just one of their first 11 shots in the fourth.
Indiana went without a field goal until the 6:20 mark of the fourth. Then made just one more field goal until the final minute of the game.
The Pacers cut the lead to 91-87 on a 3-pointer by Reggie Miller with 21.7 seconds remaining. Odom then missed two free throws, but got his own rebound to prevent a frantic finish. He made 1-of-2 from the line after a foul to put it away.
Despite the victory, the Heat still face a tough task in the series. Of the 173 previous best-of-seven series to begin 2-0, the trailing team has come back to win the series just seven times.
The Pacers, who had the best record in the NBA during the regular season, had been 6-0 in the postseason. They also set an NBA record by winning all six by double digits.
O'Neal found his shooting touch that had been missing in the first two games. He scored 29 points on 9-of-21 shooting after being held to 31 percent from the floor in the first two games by defensive-minded Brian Grant.
O'Neal missed five of his first eight free throw attempts, but made his final eight of the game.
The Heat, meanwhile, still could use Eddie Jones to get going.
Miami had a 9-0 run to start the second quarter with Jones on the bench. He started the game 1-for-4 shooting after struggling to get off shots in the first two games. The Heat's leading scoring during the regular season, Jones was 3-for-9 in the first two games.
Miami outscored the Pacers 15-4 with Jones on the bench. He returned and turned the ball over on the team's first possession with him in the game.
The run helped the Heat outscore Indiana by 10 in the second quarter -- only the second time in the series Miami has outscored the Pacers in a frame.
Jones did hit a big 3-pointer with 5:35 to play in the third to put the Heat ahead 55-46 -- Miami's biggest lead of the series.
But it was short-lived. The Pacers trimmed the lead to 58-55 with 2:56 remaining in the third behind strong play from O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley.
Heat coach Stan Van Gundy switched up his usual rotation, using Malik Allen off the bench in place of Udonis Haslem in hopes of getting more offense. It worked. Allen played 18 minutes in the first half and scored 10 points -- all in the second quarter.
HEAT 94, PACERS 87
The Miami Heat handed Indiana its first loss of the postseason, beating the Pacers 94-87 Monday night and trail Indiana 2-1 in their best-of-seven series.
Dwyane Wade scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Lamar Odom added 16 points for the Heat, who extended their home winning streak to 17 games.
Game 4 is Wednesday night in Miami, where the Heat haven't lost since March 2.
The home-court helped Miami beat the Pacers for the first time in 12 tries. This one was close until the end.
The Heat used a 7-0 run to take a 79-72 lead with 2:55 to play. Wade hit a pull-up jumper at the foul line, then dunked over Jermaine O'Neal. He sliced down the lane, took a pass from Odom and jumped over one of the league's best defenders.
Caron Butler hit two free throws, and Odom added another to cap the Heat's run. They got plenty of help from the Pacers, who made just one of their first 11 shots in the fourth.
Indiana went without a field goal until the 6:20 mark of the fourth. Then made just one more field goal until the final minute of the game.
The Pacers cut the lead to 91-87 on a 3-pointer by Reggie Miller with 21.7 seconds remaining. Odom then missed two free throws, but got his own rebound to prevent a frantic finish. He made 1-of-2 from the line after a foul to put it away.
Despite the victory, the Heat still face a tough task in the series. Of the 173 previous best-of-seven series to begin 2-0, the trailing team has come back to win the series just seven times.
The Pacers, who had the best record in the NBA during the regular season, had been 6-0 in the postseason. They also set an NBA record by winning all six by double digits.
O'Neal found his shooting touch that had been missing in the first two games. He scored 29 points on 9-of-21 shooting after being held to 31 percent from the floor in the first two games by defensive-minded Brian Grant.
O'Neal missed five of his first eight free throw attempts, but made his final eight of the game.
The Heat, meanwhile, still could use Eddie Jones to get going.
Miami had a 9-0 run to start the second quarter with Jones on the bench. He started the game 1-for-4 shooting after struggling to get off shots in the first two games. The Heat's leading scoring during the regular season, Jones was 3-for-9 in the first two games.
Miami outscored the Pacers 15-4 with Jones on the bench. He returned and turned the ball over on the team's first possession with him in the game.
The run helped the Heat outscore Indiana by 10 in the second quarter -- only the second time in the series Miami has outscored the Pacers in a frame.
Jones did hit a big 3-pointer with 5:35 to play in the third to put the Heat ahead 55-46 -- Miami's biggest lead of the series.
But it was short-lived. The Pacers trimmed the lead to 58-55 with 2:56 remaining in the third behind strong play from O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley.
Heat coach Stan Van Gundy switched up his usual rotation, using Malik Allen off the bench in place of Udonis Haslem in hopes of getting more offense. It worked. Allen played 18 minutes in the first half and scored 10 points -- all in the second quarter.
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