NBA Roundup: Garnett scores 33 in rout of Suns
Timberwolves' center treats Minnesota fans to free soda, beer
Minneapolis ? The drinks were on Kevin Garnett, and so was the entertainment.
Garnett had 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists Wednesday night, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves past his old teammate Stephon Marbury and the Phoenix Suns, 107-92.
“We came in and jumped right on ’em,” Garnett said.
The first 10,000 fans received a coupon for a free soda or beer, courtesy of Garnett, who said earlier this season he’d buy the drinks if it could get the crowd into games sooner.
Taken out of the game with less than a minute left, Garnett picked up an empty cup sitting on the press table on his way to the bench and raised it to the crowd.
“I thought it’d be a cool thing,” Garnett said. “I totally love our fans. This was my way of giving back to them.”
After losing six of eight, Minnesota has won two in a row but learned Wednesday point guard Terrell Brandon would miss the rest of the year with an injured left leg.
“I got the news today,” Brandon said. “I was totally shocked.”
Garnett, who had 10 rebounds by halftime, has 65 points and 27 rebounds in two games against Phoenix this year. The Timberwolves played a lot of zone defense in the second half, using Garnett at the top of the key where many times he’d be matched up against Marbury.
“He says he’s 7-foot, but I think he’s 7-foot-2 or 3,” Marbury said. “And when he puts his arms in the air, he’s like 10 feet tall.
“Having him at the top of the defense is tough.”
Shawn Marion scored 24 points, and Marbury added 15 points and 11 assists for the Suns.
“It just wasn’t our night,” Marion said. “We only got like four points on the fast break. We’re supposed to be a fast-break team. We need to push that ball.”
Hornets 113, Bulls 91
Charlotte, N.C. Lee Nailon scored 24 points and Baron Davis added 18 points and 12 assists.
Chicago starters Eddie Robinson and Brad Miller sat out the second half, Robinson with a strained groin and Miller with a bruised left calf. The Bulls were already without injured players Ron Mercer, Charles Oakley and Greg Anthony.
A.J. Guyton scored 19 points for the Bulls, who had beaten the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee in their last two games, but fell to 3-23 on the road.
Heat 112, Magic 95
Miami Eddie Jones scored 24 points and Alonzo Mourning added 18 to lead Miami.
Brian Grant added 15 points and Rod Strickland had 14 as the Heat shot 55 percent from the floor.
Tracy McGrady scored 26 points and Pat Garrity 25 to lead the Magic.
Cavaliers 115, Bucks 107
Milwaukee Wesley Person tied his career-high with 33 points and Andre Miller added 27 as the Cleveland Cavaliers handed Central Division-leading Milwaukee its seventh loss in nine games.
Miller also had 19 assists and Lamond Murray added 22 points for the Cavaliers, who never trailed in the second half.
The Bucks have lost to the East’s two worst teams, Chicago and Cleveland, since the All-Star break, and they’ve dropped five of their last seven at home.
Knicks 89, Raptors 82
New York Kurt Thomas scored 19 points, Latrell Sprewell added 14, Allan Houston 13 and Clarence Weatherspoon 12 for New York. New York’s reserves’ outscored Toronto’s 24-3. Keon Clark had 26 points, Morris Peterson added 25 and Alvin Williams scored 16.
Blazers 114, Mavericks 103
Portland, Ore. Rasheed Wallace scored 24 points and Bonzi Wells added 22. Dale Davis had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers, who outrebounded Dallas 45-27. Wallace had nine rebounds and Wells chipped in with eight.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who broke their franchise-record eight-game road winning streak. Tim Hardaway added 19 points.
Portland went ahead in the second quarter with a 10-0 run.
Dallas made it 100-96 with 7:40 remaining, but the Blazers scored 10 of the next 11 points.
Warriors 92, Celtics 75
Oakland, Calif. Antawn Jamison scored 27 points for the Warriors. Jason Richardson added 19 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
Paul Pierce scored 30 points for Boston. Pierce scored 30 or more points for the 20th time this season. Only Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson (21 times) has done it more often.
Antoine Walker followed his first triple-double of the year Tuesday night in Denver with a 13-point, 12-rebound effort against Golden State.

