Garnett’s Late Shot on Target

Kevin Garnett is right at home with the game on the line, especially when he’s in the Target Center paint.

Garnett banked in a 10-foot shot with 3.3 seconds left to cap a 27-point performance as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Portland, 98-96, Thursday night at Minneapolis.

“They were anticipating us to call a timeout,” Garnett said. “I sprinted down the court and got to my favorite box.”

Terrell Brandon found Garnett, who got free with a fake.

“I gave [Scottie] Pippen a herky-jerky move to get some space,” Garnett said.

Malik Sealy tied his season-high with 27 points for Minnesota, which won for the eighth time in nine games following an eight-game losing streak. Brandon, who was playing despite a severe cough, had 17 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds.

“Tonight was a credit to the hard work we have put in over the last three weeks,” said Sealy, who hit two crucial jumpers in the last two minutes. “Flip [Saunders] and the rest of the coaches got us to work hard.”

Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points and Steve Smith had 20 for Portland, which had its six-game winning streak snapped.

Portland had a 92-88 lead with 2:45 remaining before Garnett and Brandon each made two free throws to tie it with 1:52 left. The teams traded baskets twice before Garnett made his winning shot.

Toronto 101, Sacramento 89--Charles Oakley had a season-high 20 points and 16 rebounds as the Raptors defeated the Kings at Toronto, snapping Sacramento’s four-game winning streak.

Doug Christie hit four three-pointers and had 16 points, and Tracy McGrady added 15 to help Toronto overcome Vince Carter’s second subpar performance since being left off the U.S. Olympic team.

Carter, coming off a 13-point effort Tuesday night against Portland, made seven of 23 shots and scored 14 points.

Chris Webber led Sacramento with 27 points and 19 rebounds.

Detroit 101, Milwaukee 95--Grant Hill scored 19 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons defeated the Bucks at Auburn Hills, Mich., to extend their winning streak to six games.

Hill, coming off 42-point performances in Orlando and Atlanta, was 13 of 21 from field and had seven assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes.

Cleveland 90, Golden State 75--Lamond Murray scored 20 points as the Cavaliers won at Cleveland, handing the Warriors their eighth consecutive loss.

Miami 111, Houston 99--Alonzo Mourning had 28 points and nine blocks at Miami for the Heat’s eighth consecutive victory over the Rockets.

Utah 105, Dallas 92--Karl Malone had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Bryon Russell added 20 at Dallas as the Jazz defeated the Mavericks for the 11th straight time. Utah has won five consecutive games.

Indiana 102, Denver 87--Travis Best scored 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Pacers defeated the Nuggets at Denver to run their winning streak to a season-high seven games.