Timberwolves Slow Streaking Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks’ porous defense was the perfect antidote for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 19 rebounds as Minnesota rebounded from a poor showing on Sunday with one of their best offensive games in a 121-97 home victory over Dallas on Wednesday night. The Mavericks had won six in a row.

The Timberwolves scored only 74 points in Sunday’s loss at Philadelphia.

“We were totally embarrassed in Philly,” Garnett said. “Yesterday was a very heated practice and we got after it. That carried over to tonight.”

Minnesota shot 55.2% from the field and set a season high for points scored in a regulation game and three-pointers, making 11 of 21. Troy Hudson, who had 22 points, was four for nine from behind the arc. Latrell Sprewell scored 20 points.

Marquis Daniels and Michael Finley scored 16 points apiece for the Mavericks, playing without point guard Steve Nash (stomach virus) for the second consecutive game.

Memphis 97, Portland 88 -- Bonzi Wells returned to Portland for the first time since his trade on Dec. 3 and brushed off the boos to score 28 points in the makeup of a game originally scheduled for Jan. 6. It was postponed by a snowstorm.

Phoenix 87, New Jersey 74 -- At Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire had 32 points to become the first Sun in nine years to score at least 20 in 10 consecutive games.

The last Sun to do it was Charles Barkley, who did it twice during the 1995-96 season.

Richard Jefferson had 26 points for the Nets, who played without Jason Kidd (knee) for the second consecutive game.

New York 88, Philadelphia 77 -- Stephon Marbury had 36 points and 10 assists at New York to help the Knicks end a six-game winning streak in a game in which the 76ers’ Allen Iverson returned from a four-game injury absence by making only two of 21 shots and finishing with 11 points. Iverson had suffered a bruised shoulder.

New Orleans 100, Chicago 97 -- Jamal Mashburn made a turnaround three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime at New Orleans.

Mashburn, who had 27 points, sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 33 seconds left in regulation. Jamal Crawford had 34 points for Chicago, which was prevented from winning three in a row for the first time this season.

San Antonio 88, Seattle 84 -- Tony Parker had 17 points, including 11 of them and three steals in the fourth quarter, to help the Spurs hang on at San Antonio in their third straight game without Tim Duncan (leg).

Parker finished with a career-high six steals. Ronald Murray had 24 points for Seattle, which trailed by 13 points after three quarters but got within two points with 1:07 left.

Milwaukee 105, Orlando 97 -- Keith Van Horn had 25 points and Damon Jones tied the NBA’s season high with 17 assists at Orlando, Fla., in the Bucks’ fourth straight victory.

Cleveland 112, Atlanta 80 -- LeBron James, on his bobblehead night, left some heads shaking with 24 points in three quarters in the Cavaliers’ most lopsided victory of the season at Cleveland.

Washington 84, Toronto 70 -- Gilbert Arenas had 27 points at Washington to help the Wizards win for the fourth time in five games.