Pooh
10-24-2003, 06:46 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett had 29 points and nine rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves completed their preseason with a 90-73 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.
Minnesota was dealt another injury setback when guard Troy Hudson sprained his right ankle with 7:50 remaining and did not return.
Center Michael Olowokandi, signed as a free agent, has yet to play, and Wally Szczerbiak, who played his first preseason game Wednesday in Boston, watched the game from the bench, resting his sore left foot.
Hudson had nine points and eight assists for Minnesota (4-4), which opens the season Wednesday night at home against Milwaukee.
Jermaine O'Neal had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (3-4), who play at Denver on Friday before opening the regular season Wednesday in Detroit. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was fired by the Pistons at the end of last season.
Reggie Miller also had 13 points for the Pacers, and Fred Jones added 12.
Garnett seized control of the game in the third quarter, scoring 14 points and asserting himself at both ends of the floor after taking a hard foul from Jeff Foster. Garnett glared at Foster before stepping to the free throw line.
O'Neal and Mark Madsen also had a near-altercation when O'Neal screamed at Madsen for ``flopping.'' Garnett had to step between the players.
The confrontations seemed to spur the Wolves, who charged to a 68-49 lead by the end of the third. In the quarter, Garnett blocked three shots by O'Neal.
Garnett scored 15 points in the first quarter, as Minnesota jumped out to a 34-20 lead. But, with the Wolves' star on the bench for most of the second quarter, Indiana pulled within 44-37 by halftime.
Pacers forward Ron Artest missed his second straight game with a sore knee.
Lewis and Fred Hoiberg each scored 10 points for Minnesota.
Minnesota was dealt another injury setback when guard Troy Hudson sprained his right ankle with 7:50 remaining and did not return.
Center Michael Olowokandi, signed as a free agent, has yet to play, and Wally Szczerbiak, who played his first preseason game Wednesday in Boston, watched the game from the bench, resting his sore left foot.
Hudson had nine points and eight assists for Minnesota (4-4), which opens the season Wednesday night at home against Milwaukee.
Jermaine O'Neal had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (3-4), who play at Denver on Friday before opening the regular season Wednesday in Detroit. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was fired by the Pistons at the end of last season.
Reggie Miller also had 13 points for the Pacers, and Fred Jones added 12.
Garnett seized control of the game in the third quarter, scoring 14 points and asserting himself at both ends of the floor after taking a hard foul from Jeff Foster. Garnett glared at Foster before stepping to the free throw line.
O'Neal and Mark Madsen also had a near-altercation when O'Neal screamed at Madsen for ``flopping.'' Garnett had to step between the players.
The confrontations seemed to spur the Wolves, who charged to a 68-49 lead by the end of the third. In the quarter, Garnett blocked three shots by O'Neal.
Garnett scored 15 points in the first quarter, as Minnesota jumped out to a 34-20 lead. But, with the Wolves' star on the bench for most of the second quarter, Indiana pulled within 44-37 by halftime.
Pacers forward Ron Artest missed his second straight game with a sore knee.
Lewis and Fred Hoiberg each scored 10 points for Minnesota.