MINNEAPOLIS -- All season long, Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell led the way for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Cassell was the only one who pulled his weight in Game 1 of
their second-round series against Sacramento. So it wasn't
surprising the top-seeded Wolves lost the game, along with
home-court advantage.
Neither team expects the NBA's highest-scoring trio to falter
that way again.
"We expect that they're going to come back stronger and they're going to respond," Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic said Tuesday night after the Kings beat Minnesota 104-98. "We've got to be ready for that."
Game 2 is Saturday night in Minneapolis.
It could have been ugly for the Wolves had it not been for
Cassell, who scored 40 points for the second time this postseason.
Although he had 18 rebounds, Garnett was held scoreless in the third quarter and finished with a quiet 16 points -- nearly 10 below his average entering the game. The off night came after league
commissioner David Stern presented him with the Most Valuable
Player trophy.
"I was a little overzealous," Garnett said. "I didn't really
play the game I was hoping for."
Sacramento's physical big men played solid defense on Garnett, rarely allowing a good look at the basket. Whenever the Wolves dumped the ball into the post, Garnett was usually met by Chris Webber, Vlade Divac or Brad Miller -- or a combination of defenders.
"I don't care if you're the MVP of this league," Wolves backup
center Mark Madsen said. "If you have three men running at you,
you need help."
Sprewell, who wasn't available for comment after the game,
didn't provide much of it. He shot 2-of-14 for five points while
being hounded by Doug Christie, and spent a lot of time chasing
Stojakovic.
The Kings, meanwhile, were in prime form. They used crisp
passing to spread their offense across the floor, and Mike Bibby's
33 points led six Kings in double figures.
Still, Wolves coach Flip Saunders was encouraged that his team played poorly and still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
"We made some shots, we hung in there," Saunders said
Wednesday after going over film with his players.
Saunders was most concerned about his team's 18 turnovers.
Garnett committed a team-high six.
"I know him," Webber said. "And we better come back ready
'cause he's not going to have a game like that again. Him or
Spree."
With his jump shooting showcase, Bibby passed Garnett in scoring among the league playoff leaders. Bibby's 25.2 scoring average is fourth-best -- Garnett and Cassell are fifth and sixth,
respectively, at 24.2 and 23.8.
"We've got to be more aware of Bibby," Saunders said. "He's
always been a guy who's played very well in the playoffs and he's
continuing to play that way. We've got to try to limit his easy
opportunities as best we can."
It wasn't just Bibby who had easy baskets. Defensive breakdowns
both on the fastbreak and in the halfcourt allowed for some easy
layups and three-point plays for the Kings, who are re-energized
following a late-season collapse that cost them the best record in
the Western Conference.
"We feel good to get this game," Bibby said. "We wanted to
come in here and win one of the two. ... We know they will come out
aggressive for the next game."
Said Madsen: "There's so much character in this locker room, so much fight. This is just getting started."