Box Score

 

CHICAGO (93)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
K Gill              39  6-15   3-5   1-6   3   5   15
Je Williams         23  6-10   0-0   2-6   2   2   12
A Davis             28   3-9   1-2   3-7   0   2    7
J Crawford          36  5-18   2-3   1-5   8   2   13
K Hinrich           42  5-15   4-6   2-5  10   4   17
E Curry             24   6-9   4-5   0-6   1   6   16
C Blount            21   0-6   0-0   3-7   3   3    0
C Jefferies          3   0-2   0-0   0-0   0   1    0
E Robinson          24  6-11   1-2   2-2   0   0   13
R Brunson          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
M Fizer            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
L Johnson          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 37-95 15-23 14-44  27  25   93
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.652. 3-Point Goals:
4-18, .222 (K Gill 0-3, J Crawford 1-6, K 
Hinrich 3-8, C Jefferies 0-1). Team Rebounds:
10. Blocked Shots:  0.  Turnovers:9 (J 
Crawford 4, K Gill 2, C Blount, E Curry, K 
Hinrich). Steals: 13 (C Blount 3, K Gill 3, 
Je Williams 2, J Crawford 2, E Robinson 2, A 
Davis).


MINNESOTA (98)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
L Sprewell          41 11-22   3-3   0-4   3   2   27
K Garnett           40 11-14  6-11  3-15   7   3   28
E Johnson           16   2-3   0-0   1-5   2   3    4
T Hassell           39   4-8   0-0   1-6   3   2    8
S Cassell           40  8-20   4-9   0-1   9   3   21
O Miller            24   0-0   0-0   0-7   0   4    0
F Hoiberg           17   2-6   2-4   0-3   0   2    6
K Mcleod             8   0-2   2-2   0-2   4   2    2
G Trent             12   1-2   0-0   1-4   0   0    2
M Madsen             3   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
T Hudson           DNP  - SPRAINED RIGHT ANKLE                           
N Ebi              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 39-77 17-29  6-47  28  21   98
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.506, FT-.586. 3-Point Goals:
3-10, .300 (L Sprewell 2-3, S Cassell 1-4, F 
Hoiberg 0-2, K Mcleod 0-1). Team Rebounds: 
15. Blocked Shots:4 (E Johnson 2, O Miller, K
Garnett). Turnovers:16 (L Sprewell 4, S 
Cassell 4, K Garnett 3, T Hassell 2, G Trent,
E Johnson, O Miller). Steals: 2 (K Garnett, T
Hassell).

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CHICAGO              15  32  25  21   -  93
MINNESOTA            31  20  26  21   -  98
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Chicago - 2 (COACH Skiles, 
3:27 2nd; L Johnson, 2:27 4th). Minnesota - 2
(S Cassell, 3:35 2nd; L Sprewell, 2:27 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,092. T: 2:10. 
Officials: James Capers, Phil Robinson, Scott
Foster.

Game Story

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Kevin Garnett was the middle head of 
the three-headed monster.

Garnett had 28 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to lead the
Minnesota Timberwolves to their eighth victory in nine games, a
98-93 triumph over the Chicago Bulls.

During Minnesota's hot streak, Garnett has referred to himself,
swingman Latrell Sprewell and guard Sam Cassell as the
"three-headed monster," with each star taking turns serving as
the bigger "middle head."

In this one, Garnett was the middle head, making 11-of-14 shots,
passing smartly out of double-teams and dominating the
backboards.

"We were playing raggedy basketball at times, and the game kind
of got a little out of control," Garnett said.  "But we hung in
there and made baskets when we had to."

"KG is a great player, but it's the two or three other guys they
have that really make the difference and made them so difficult
to defend," Bulls rookie guard Kirk Hinrich said.

Sprewell scored 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting and Cassell added
20 points and nine assists for the Wolves, who never trailed.

"They have great players," said Bulls guard Kendall Gill, who
played with Minnesota last season.  "When you have three
All-Stars, that's pretty tough to deal with."

Minnesota swept the season series and beat Chicago for the 10th
straight time dating to April 3, 1998.  It improved to 11-2 in
December.

"I told the guys we had a great month.  We just have to get back
to playing consistently," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.

A dunk and two free throws from Eddy Curry, who scored 16
points, pulled Chicago within 87-85 with 4:25 to go.  Garnett
made two from the line, then found former Bull Trenton Hassell
for a hoop before Sprewell's runner made it 93-86 with 2:58
left.

A jumper by Cassell sealed it at 96-90 with 41 seconds
remaining.

"We lost games like this before," Cassell said.  "As a team, we
just got off to a great start.  (But) Chicago never gave up."

The Timberwolves held a 31-15 lead after one quarter and led by
as many as 20 points in the second period before the Bulls
fought back within 51-47 at halftime.

Hinrich had 17 points and 10 assists.