Garnett Helps End Streak by Kings

It’s taking some time, but Kevin Garnett believes the Minnesota Timberwolves are starting to develop a killer instinct.

Garnett had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double this season , and the Timberwolves ended the Sacramento Kings’ winning streak at six with a 90-74 victory Wednesday night at Minneapolis.

“We have a younger team,” Garnett said. “A lot of the guys don’t have the cutthroat, the step-on-the-throat attitude yet. But we’re getting there.”

Chris Webber had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, which has lost nine of its last 10 at Minnesota.

The Kings, already depleted by injuries to Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic, might have lost Hedo Turkoglu for up to two weeks because of a sprained right wrist.

“It seems like we get more short-handed every time we turn around,” Coach Rick Adelman said.

Memphis 117, Seattle 99 -- Jason Williams scored a season-high 28 points and the host Grizzlies won their second in a row.

The Grizzlies, who started the season 0-13, shot 59.3% from the field and had six players score in double figures, including rookie Drew Gooden, who had 23 points.

Milwaukee 112, Cleveland 80 -- Sam Cassell scored 30 points at Milwaukee and the Bucks sent the Cavaliers to their 12th consecutive loss.

Michael Redd had a season-high 25 points for the Bucks, who played without starters Ray Allen (sprained right ankle) and Anthony Mason (strained left hamstring).

San Antonio 99, Denver 68 -- Stephen Jackson scored 22 points to lead the Spurs at San Antonio, where the Nuggets set an NBA record by scoring only three points in the first quarter.

The Nuggets missed 14 consecutive shots after taking a 2-0 lead.

The three points broke the previous first-quarter record of four by Sacramento against the Lakers on Feb. 4, 1987.

The Nuggets tied the mark for the second-lowest quarter in NBA history since the shot clock was introduced for the 1954-55 season.

New Orleans 106, Atlanta 94 -- Baron Davis had 16 points and 11 assists, and the Hornets improved to 9-0 at home.

The Hawks have given up 100-plus points in five consecutive games, four of them losses.

New York 87, Toronto 81 -- Allan Houston scored 30 points and the Knicks won their first road game and spoiled Vince Carter’s return to the Raptor lineup.

Carter scored 16 points in his first game after sitting out 10 because of a strained quadriceps.

Philadelphia 83, Miami 74 -- Allen Iverson scored 13 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, making the 76ers 9-0 at home and leading them to their fifth consecutive victory.

Boston 92, Chicago 82 -- Paul Pierce scored 30 points, and Tony Battie had 16 points and nine rebounds to help the host Celtics win their fourth in a row.

Pierce, who had nine rebounds and six assists, has led Boston during the winning streak by averaging 29 points and 11 rebounds in that stretch. The Celtics have won 10 of 12.

Phoenix 82, New Jersey 75 -- Shawn Marion had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Suns at Phoenix.

The Nets made only three field goals in the fourth quarter.

Jason Kidd, a former Sun, was booed throughout the first half. He finished with a team-high 17 points.

Houston 91, Golden State 84 -- Kelvin Cato scored a season-high 22 points and had 12 rebounds, and the Rockets won their 14th in a row on the Warriors’ home court.