Timberwolves Get Zoned Out

The zone defense helped the Minnesota Timberwolves win their first six games, and then caused their first loss.

Cleveland got back into Tuesday night’s game by switching to a zone, and Andre Miller had 29 points and 11 assists as the Cavaliers beat the Timberwolves, 107-103, at Minneapolis.

Lamond Murray’s three-point play with 32.8 seconds left snapped a 98-98 tie and gave the Cavaliers the lead for good.

Cleveland trailed by nine points early, but went on a 31-13 run that included a three-for-19 shooting performance by the Timberwolves in the second quarter against the zone.

“I think we surprised them with their own medicine,” Murray said. “We put a zone on them and it took them out of a lot of things. That was the difference.”

Miller scored 16 points in the second half, including six for six from the free-throw line. Cleveland hit all 17 of its free-throw attempts in the second half.

New Jersey 91, Indiana 82--Jason Kidd scored 20 points and had 10 assists, and Keith Van Horn added 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Nets beat the Pacers at Indianapolis.

The Pacers had won four in a row, rallying from double-digit deficits in the last three. Indiana closed within four points midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by 16 in the first half.

But the Nets (6-1), off to their best start in the team’s NBA history, went on a 12-2 run to stretch their lead to 86-72.

Philadelphia 82, Miami 76--Allen Iverson missed 22 of 30 shots at Miami but the 76ers won their second consecutive game since his return from elbow surgery.

Although Iverson scored 25 points, he went two for 15 in the second half, missing his final 11 attempts, and is 15 for 58 in two games.

New York 89, Portland 82--Howard Eisley saw his first playing time of the season and made the most of it, scoring seven points in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks at New York.

Eisley, acquired in an off-season trade, sat on the bench throughout the Knicks’ first seven games. He finally took his warmups off for the first time with 3:34 left in the third and played the rest of the game.

Sacramento 95, Toronto 86--Mike Bibby and Doug Christie scored 20 points apiece at Sacramento as the Kings survived a terrible second half to beat the Raptors.

Denver 101, Chicago 93--Nick Van Exel had 23 points and six assists, and Raef LaFrentz added 18 points as the Nuggets won at Denver.

San Antonio 90, Houston 86--The Spurs built a big lead behind Tim Duncan’s 19 points and also got 14 from Tony Parker and 13 from Steve Smith as they held on at San Antonio.

Phoenix 92, Seattle 91--Penny Hardaway scored 26 points and Shawn Marion had 25 as the Suns won at Seattle.

*

The Seattle SuperSonics put starting power forward Vin Baker on the injured list because of a bruised left knee and activated guard Shammond Williams. Baker will miss at least five games. ... The Toronto Raptors put forward Jerome Williams on the injured list with a bruised right knee and activated guard Dell Curry. ... Damon Stoudamire, unhappy with his demotion, went on the injured list as the Portland Trail Blazers used Scottie Pippen at point forward for the fifth consecutive game. Guard Rick Brunson was activated to take Stoudamire’s roster spot.