Timberwolves Take a Big Step Backward

Looking at the schedule gave the Minnesota Timberwolves reason to be optimistic about making a run for the Western Conference playoffs.

But after a crushing loss to lowly Golden State on Wednesday night, last year’s Western Conference finalists appear to be running for the lottery.

Derek Fisher had 23 points and nine assists to lead the Warriors to only their sixth road victory of the season, a 99-93 win over the Timberwolves.

“It’s such a bad loss for us,” Minnesota guard Fred Hoiberg said.

The Warriors, playing back-to-back games and now 6-22 on the road, trailed by 11 points in the third quarter but opened the fourth with a 16-2 run to stop a three-game losing streak.

Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who remain one game behind the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

With home games against the Warriors and Milwaukee and a game at Boston this week, the Timberwolves were hoping to “make some hay” as new Coach Kevin McHale put it, and gain some ground on the Lakers, who lost to Boston on Wednesday.

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Washington 101, Houston 98 -- Larry Hughes made an emphatic return to the Wizards, scoring 31 points in his first game since breaking his thumb.

Hughes also had six rebounds and four assists, and backcourt partner Gilbert Arenas had 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the home victory for the Wizards, who blew a 17-point third quarter lead but rallied from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to end a two-game losing streak. The Wizards have an eight-game winning streak when Hughes is in the lineup, but the previous seven came before he was sidelined after a victory over Phoenix on Jan. 15.

Tracy McGrady scored 26 for Houston.

New Jersey 99, Philadelphia 93 -- Vince Carter scored 26 of his 32 points in the second half to lead the Nets at Philadelphia. New Jersey has won three in a row to close within 1 1/2 games of Philadelphia, second behind Boston in the Atlantic Division.

Allen Iverson had 37 points and Chris Webber scored 10 on four-of-18 shooting in his worst performance in three games for the 76ers. Philadelphia has lost three of four since acquiring Webber from Sacramento last week.

Orlando 114, Sacramento 111 -- Steve Francis had 29 points and 10 assists at Orlando, Fla., to help the Magic end a three-game losing streak.

Peja Stojakovic, playing for the first time since injuring his hamstring Feb. 13, led the Kings with 28 points but missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Seattle 103, Cleveland 86 -- At Cleveland, Ray Allen scored 31 points, Vladimir Radmanovic made five three-pointers and the SuperSonics spoiled Dan Gilbert’s first game as the Cavaliers’ owner.

LeBron James scored 32 points, but Cleveland lost its fourth straight game.

San Antonio 92, Toronto 86 -- Manu Ginobili scored 17 points at San Antonio for the Spurs, who led by as many as 21 while coasting to victory. Chris Bosh had 16 points for Toronto.

New Orleans 94, Charlotte 85 -- Dan Dickau scored 18 points at New Orleans to help the Hornets split the season series, 1-1, with the team that replaced them in Charlotte, N.C. Emeka Okafor led Charlotte with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Utah 96, Atlanta 74 -- Mehmet Okur scored 19 points at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz to its first three-game winning streak since the opening week of the season. Atlanta lost its 10th in a row.