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Wolves beat the Cavaliers 94-88
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-18 15:33
Minnesota's backups were too much for Cleveland's All-Stars. Wally Szczerbiak
scored 26 points off the bench, and Kevin Garnett added 20 points, 18 rebounds
and six assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 94-88 victory over the Cavaliers
on Thursday night.
Cleveland Cavaliers
guard Eric Snow (20) knocks the ball away from Minnesota Timberwolves
guard Anthony Carter, right, during the second quarter in Minneapolis,
Thursday, Feb. 17 2005. [AP] | Led by Szczerbiak,
the Timberwolves' bench players outscored Cleveland's backups 55-6, which was
enough to hold off Cleveland's All-Star tandem of LeBron James and Zydrunas
Ilgauskas and give new coach Kevin McHale his second straight win.
James had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, but was helped to the
locker room early in the fourth quarter while battling exhaustion from being
ill. After getting fluids in the locker room, James returned to the court with
just over 4 minutes to play and had to drop to his knees in the huddle during a
timeout.
Jeff McInnis did his best to fill in, hitting two big jumpers off of drives
to the basket that gave Cleveland an 81-79 lead with 4:30 to play.
The Timberwolves responded with an 11-2 run. Garnett hit a layup and jumper,
Szczerbiak added a jumper of his own and Garnett was able to slither in for an
offensive rebound off a missed free throw from Eddie Griffin that led to a 90-83
advantage with 1:27 to play.
James scored six more points after returning to the court, but Griffin sealed
the win when he took a no-look pass from Garnett and made a reverse layup with
23 seconds to go.
Garnett was the only Wolves' starter in double figures, but he had plenty of
help.
Fred Hoiberg added 13 points and Griffin finished with nine points and 10
rebounds, both off the bench, to lead the balanced effort.
Ilgauskas had 24 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, McInnis had 17 points
and seven assists and Drew Gooden added 12 points and 10 boards for Cleveland.
In McHale's three games as coach, the Timberwolves are 2-1 and have started
to display the hustle, determination and teamwork that were so integral to their
run to the Western Conference finals last season.
During one exchange in the second quarter, the Timberwolves blocked two shots
down low before Anthony Carter tipped away the loose ball, fought with Eric Snow
to get to it first, then pushed it ahead to a streaking Fred Hoiberg for an easy
layup.
The scrappy play prompted a fan behind the Wolves' bench to say, "that's
inspiring."
It was a huge step in the right direction for a Minnesota team that has so
often been uninspiring during a disappointing first half of the season that
ultimately resulted in longtime coach Flip Saunders' firing.
Minnesota outrebounded Cleveland 47-37 and outscored the Cavs 36-30 in the
paint, two things McHale has stressed since taking over.
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