Timberwolves Take Nuggets in OT

The Denver Nuggets’ first mistake was letting the Minnesota Timberwolves creep back into the game. Then they let Kevin Garnett take over.

Garnett scored six of his 30 points in overtime, and the Timberwolves rallied from a 13-point deficit with three minutes left in regulation to defeat the Nuggets, 105-97, Saturday night at Denver.

Garnett’s 12-foot jumper with 1.1 second left in the fourth quarter forced the extra session.

“KG came off a screen, got a good look and knocked it down,” Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders said. “He made great plays down the stretch, and he did a good job of getting [Antonio] McDyess out of the game with fouls. That definitely helped us.”

Two free throws by George McCloud gave Denver an 84-71 lead with 3:06 remaining in regulation. Minnesota scored the next 11 points in a 17-4 run that produced an 88-88 tie.

Garnett’s three-point play on a jumper in the lane made it 86-86. After two free throws by Cory Alexander, Garnett tied it.

Garnett had six straight points for Minnesota in overtime, including an 18-foot jumper that made it 97-92 with 1:31 to go. Anthony Peeler hit four consecutive free throws in the final 17 seconds to ice it.

Garnett, who also had 14 rebounds, said he saw Nugget players and fans “raising the roof in the third quarter. That’s disrespect to us. I know they play well at home, but you have 12 minutes to go. They woke the sleeping giant.”

Of his last shot in regulation, he said, “I don’t put a shot up that I can’t make.”

Bobby Jackson had 20 points and Peeler 17 for Minnesota.

Denver rookie James Posey scored a career-high 23 points. McDyess and Raef LaFrentz had 20 points and 13 points, respectively, before each fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

Orlando 107, Indiana 102--Chucky Atkins scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Magic snapped the Pacers’ four-game winning streak with a victory at Orlando, Fla.

The backup point guard scored seven of Orlando’s last nine points, including a driving one-hand runner that put his team up, 103-97, with 49 seconds to go.

Atlanta 102, Cleveland 94--Isaiah Rider scored 23 points and Dikembe Mutombo had 17 rebounds as the visiting Hawks held off the Cavaliers in a game Cleveland started with nine players and finished without Shawn Kemp.

Alan Henderson and Bimbo Coles had 16 points apiece for the Hawks. Rookie Andre Miller had 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Charlotte 110, Washington 102--Elden Campbell had 27 points and nine rebounds and Derrick Coleman had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Hornets defeated the Wizards at Washington.

Toronto 98, Milwaukee 95--Vince Carter scored 30 points and Dell Curry tormented his former team with four three-pointers as the Raptors defeated the Bucks at Milwaukee.