Streaking Timberwolves Send the Kings Reeling

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ 11th consecutive victory was the most impressive of their streak.

Kevin Garnett matched his career high with 40 points Wednesday night and the Timberwolves used a record-setting first quarter to fuel a 117-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Minneapolis.

Minnesota’s streak is the longest in the NBA this season, surpassing 10-game streaks by the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Garnett scored 17 of his points during the first quarter as the Timberwolves went on an 18-point run and outscored the Kings, 41-10. They tied team records for most points scored and fewest points allowed in a first quarter.

“I’ve never seen a start like that,” Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders said.

Garnett dominated Chris Webber in a matchup of all-star power forwards, making 17 of 22 shots. He scored his 40 points in 34 minutes, matching his career best set last season. Webber, who scored 22 points, made 10 of 22 shots as the Kings lost for the third consecutive game.

Houston 112, Philadelphia 87--Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley each scored 23 points and Hakeem Olajuwon had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets at Philadelphia.

The Rockets, 11-22 in the Western Conference, improved to 13-3 against the East by defeating the team with the NBA’s best record.

Allen Iverson led the 76ers (36-14) with 26 points on 10-for-28 shooting.

New York 96, Dallas 93--After watching the Mavericks tie the score twice with last-second shots at New York, the Knicks committed a strategic intentional foul to make sure it didn’t happen again.

Allan Houston fouled Michael Finley with 0.8 of a second to play in the second overtime, preventing the Mavericks from attempting a three-point shot.

The Knicks improved to 5-0 in overtime games, but only after Finley tied the score with an off-balance 15-footer at the buzzer in regulation and Howard Eisley made a three-point shot with one second left in the first overtime.

San Antonio 107, Cleveland 89--Tim Duncan had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Danny Ferry made two big three-point shots in the second half in his return to Cleveland, leading the Spurs to their eighth consecutive victory.

Ferry made his first visit to Cleveland since leaving as a free agent after 10 seasons with the Cavaliers. He made three three-point shots and scored 11 points.

Orlando 107, Washington 98--Darrell Armstrong scored 32 points at Orlando, Fla., to lead the Magic to its sixth consecutive victory.

Armstrong averaged nearly 24 points and eight assists in leading the Magic to four victories last week and had another big game despite playing with a sore groin muscle. He made 10 of 15 shots, including seven of nine three-pointers, and had seven rebounds and five assists.

Portland 97, Seattle 80--Damon Stoudamire scored 21 points at Portland, Ore., to help the Trail Blazers enter the All-Star break with a two-game lead in the Western Conference.

Utah 92, Vancouver 82--Karl Malone scored 34 points to lead the Jazz at Vancouver, Canada.

Boston 94, Milwaukee 91--Antoine Walker scored 36 points at Boston to lead the Celtics to their seventh victory in eight games and 10th in 15 under interim Coach Jim O’Brien.

Around the League

Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas of the Cleveland Cavaliers had three new screws inserted during a “complicated” surgery on his broken left foot on Tuesday and will be sidelined for at least six months. . . . The Sacramento Kings placed guard Jon Barry on the injured list because of a fractured left hand. . . . Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors will play in Sunday’s All-Star game at Washington despite an ailing left knee.