Timberwolves Lose in McHale’s Debut

Playing hard for new Coach Kevin McHale, the Minnesota Timberwolves came back from a 14-point deficit but in a manner befitting their unexpectedly frustrating season they fell short.

Reserve Ben Gordon had 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls spoiled McHale’s first game on Minnesota’s bench with a 87-83 victory on Sunday at Minneapolis.

McHale, also the vice president of basketball operations, fired Flip Saunders on Saturday.

“Superman’s not going to walk through that door,” said Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, who had 23 points, 14 rebounds and three missed field goals in the final minute. “Kevin’s not going to put [No. 32] on and come out here and help us. It’s up to everybody here to take a look at themselves and look in the mirror and figure out what they can do. We’ve got to figure this out for ourselves.”

Eddy Curry scored 17 points and Kirk Hinrich added 15 for the Bulls, whose 20-2 run bridging the first and second quarters was the difference.

Latrell Sprewell had 26 points for the Timberwolves, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

Phoenix 106, Golden State 102 -- Jimmy Jackson made a go-ahead shot with less than 20 seconds left in overtime at Oakland to help the Suns overcome the Warriors’ late 14-0 run and tie San Antonio (40-12) for the best record in the NBA.

Joe Johnson led Phoenix with 23 points. Amare Stoudemire was held to nine points, snapping his string of 11 straight 20-point games.

Mike Dunleavy had 24 points for the Warriors.

Dallas 95, Seattle 92 -- Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Michael Finley added 23 points and a season-high 11 rebounds at Seattle, helping the Mavericks to a game-ending 15-2 run in ending the SuperSonics’ five-game winning streak.

Rashard Lewis had 18 points for Seattle, which scored only two free throws in the final 4:40. Ray Allen had only 10 points on four-for-17 shooting.

Sacramento 104, Boston 100 -- Chris Webber had a triple-double by the third quarter and finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists and Mike Bibby had 14 of his 27 points in the fourth at Boston to help the Kings end a four-game losing streak.

Sacramento’s Peja Stojakovic strained his right hamstring in the first quarter and did not return.

New Jersey 94, Denver 79 -- Vince Carter scored 23 points and the Nets spoiled Kenyon Martin’s return to East Rutherford, N.J., holding the Nuggets without a basket for nearly 11 minutes spanning the second and third quarters.

Martin, who left as a free agent last summer, received a standing ovation and finished with 13 points but missed his last eight shots.

Houston 81, Portland 80 -- Yao Ming had 23 points to help the host Rockets to their seventh straight victory. Damon Stoudamire led Portland with 25 points.

Indiana 76, Memphis 73 -- Stephen Jackson had 19 points at Indianapolis as the Pacers overcame an off night from Jermaine O’Neal (11 points and eight rebounds).

New York 102, Charlotte 99 -- Tim Thomas’ three-point shot hit the rim and bounced four feet above it before caroming off the top of the backboard and dropping through with no time left at New York to give the Knicks their fourth victory in 22 games.

Orlando 97, New Orleans 94 -- Steve Francis and Hedo Turkoglu had 22 points apiece to help the Magic win at Orlando, Fla. Dan Dickau had a career-high 28 points for New Orleans.