Print

Mail

wiki links

Timberwolves devour Bobcats 102-96

Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison, right, battles Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Davis for the ball during the first quarter of their NBA game in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Kevin Garnett celebrated the return of the National Basketball Associa-tion's leather ball on Monday with a 32-point performance in Min-nesota's 102-96 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Garnett also grabbed 14 rebounds and Ricky Davis added 25 points as the Timberwolves rallied from a 20-point deficit in a game that saw the NBA revert to its old regulation ball after player complaints about the high-tech synthetic ball introduced this season.

Minnesota posted the fourth-largest comeback in franchise history to win for the fourth time in six games.

After trailing 50-30 in the second quarter, Minnesota used a 14-0 run early in the fourth to take an 82-80 lead with 8:18 left.

Garnett, one of the most vocal critics of the synthetic ball, scored four points and Davis and rookie Randy Foye hit 3-pointers during the spurt.

Garnett made 9-of-18 shots and Blount scored a season-high 21 points for the Timberwolves.

Celtics 89, Trail Blazers 81

At Portland, Oregon, Tony Allen had 22 points and eight rebounds as Boston ended a six-game slide with a road victory over the Trail Blazers.

Ryan Gomes had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who concluded a five-game road trip. Al Jefferson added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Wally Szczerbiak had 15 points.

Rookie Brandon Roy had 18 points to lead Portland, and Ime Udoka and Martell Webster had 11 points apiece.

Zach Randolph had 10 rebounds and nine points.
This story has been viewed 1574 times.