Kevin Garnett almost singlehandedly ended the Phoenix Suns' 17-game winning streak, scoring 44 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 121-112 victory in the NBA on Monday.
All-Star forward Garnett was everywhere in the final period against the Suns, dropping turnaround jumper after turnaround jumper to give Phoenix its first loss of the year.
He scored 15 points in the fourth, including a looping fallaway from the baseline that gave Minnesota a 118-109 lead with 1:55 to play, and put new coach Randy Wittman on the way to a win in his home debut.
"It's just about being a presence," Garnett said. "It's about making them have to deal with me. I will continue to take that approach."
Raja Bell scored 26 points and Steve Nash had 20 points and 18 assists for the Suns, who were looking to tie for the fourth-longest winning streak in NBA history.
"Better to lose that way than to lose when we beat ourselves," Nash said. "Kevin was sensational. We just didn't make shots at the end at the clip Kevin was making them."
Hawks 93, Magic 83
At Atlanta, Joe Johnson had another high-scoring game against Orlando, putting up 34 points to help Atlanta answer a third-quarter challenge.
Johnson, who had averaged 31.8 points in the Hawks' last five wins over Orlando, scored 22 in the second half.
Orlando pulled to within 48-47 early in the third quarter before the Hawks answered with 13 straight points. Johnson capped the run with a pull-up jumper for a 61-47 lead.
Orlando lost its third straight, including two to Atlanta in four days.
Grant Hill led the Magic with 21 points.
Hornets 103, Trail Blazers 91
At Oklahoma City, David West had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jannero Pargo scored 12 straight points for New Orleans in the fourth quarter.
Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 16 rebounds for his seventh double-double in the past 11 games for the Hornets, who have won their past six home games.
Zach Randolph led Portland with 20 points. Rookie Brandon Roy added 19 points.
Grizzlies 124, Kings 117
At Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol scored 34 points and Mike Miller added 27 to lead Memphis.
Chucky Atkins came off the bench to score 22 points, including 13 in the final quarter, to help the Grizzlies win for only the third time in 10 games.
Behind Gasol, Miller and Atkins, the Grizzlies shot 58.6 percent and outrebounded Sacramento 47-25. Gasol was 14-of-17 from the field and scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Mike Bibby led Sacramento with 23 points and Kevin Martin, the Kings' leading scorer, finished with 22.
Rockets 105, 76ers 84
At Houston, Tracy McGrady scored 25 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and Rafer Alston had nine of Houston's season-high 31 assists in a win over Philadelphia.
Juwan Howard added 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Rockets held an opponent to 85 points or fewer for the third straight game.
Nets 116, Jazz 115
At Salt Lake City, Vince Carter made a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift New Jersey to a win and give the Nets back-to-back victories to end their five-game road trip.
Carter scored 29 of his 33 points in the second half, including a one-handed dunk that got New Jersey within 114-113 of Utah with 6 seconds left.
Mehmet Okur led the Jazz with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Paul Millsap finished with 16 points and 12 boards. Utah was playing without leading scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer (knee) and coach Jerry Sloan, who missed the game with the flu.
RSS