Garnett, Brandon Lift Timberwolves, 90-88

Kevin Garnett had 37 points and 12 rebounds, and Terrell Brandon made a jumper with two seconds remaining, and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets, 90-88, Saturday at Houston.

The Timberwolves opened a season with three consecutive victories for the first time.

Cuttino Mobley scored 24 points, and Steve Francis had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets.

San Antonio 106, Portland 90--Steve Smith scored 36 points in his return to Portland and Tim Duncan added 29 points.

Smith, acquired by the Spurs in an off-season trade, scored 23 points in the first half. Duncan finished with 15 rebounds for his third double-double this season.

Bonzi Wells scored 30 points for Portland.

Sacramento 106, Denver 94--Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points and reserve Hedo Turkoglu added 19 for the Kings at Denver.

Nick Van Exel had 32 points for Denver.

Utah 91, Seattle 74--Karl Malone scored 28 points and Donyell Marshall had 23 for Utah at Seattle.

John Stockton, Utah’s 39-year-old point guard, started and played 35 minutes with his right index finger taped. He cut the finger in Thursday’s loss to the Lakers and needed seven stitches.

Utah outrebounded the SuperSonics, 45-29. Marshall had 13 rebounds and Malone had 11.

The Jazz avoided starting 0-3 for the first time since 1979-80, their first season in Utah.

Orlando 99, Cleveland 69--Tracy McGrady had 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in three quarters for the Magic at Cleveland.

The Cavaliers shot 25.3% from the field and barely avoided breaking a 47-year-old record for the lowest field-goal percentage in a game. They set a club record with only 20 field goals.

Andre Miller scored 20 points for Cleveland, 14 on free throws.

Chicago 84, New York 79--Greg Anthony hit a tie-breaking three-point basket with 1:40 to play, giving the host Bulls their first victory.

Anthony, who played four seasons with the Knicks, and Ron Mercer each scored 17.

Latrell Sprewell’s 17 points led the Knicks, who shot 35% from the field.

Atlanta 90, Miami 83--Jason Terry scored 20 points and five other players scored in double figures for host Atlanta.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 17 for the Hawks. Alonzo Mourning scored 23 for Miami.

New Jersey 95, Charlotte 85--Keith Van Horn made five three-point baskets and had 28 points and nine rebounds for New Jersey at East Rutherford.

Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles each had 16 points for the Nets, who won for the third time in four games. It is the best start for the Nets since opening with four consecutive victories in 1997-98.

Elden Campbell had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte.

Milwaukee 105, Boston 99--Ray Allen scored eight of his 32 points in the fourth quarter for host Milwaukee.

Sam Cassell had 25 points and 12 assists, and Glenn Robinson had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.

Paul Pierce finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Antoine Walker had 29 points and 17 rebounds for the Celtics.