Sonics overcome slow start to beat Timberwolves
Chris Wilcox scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Seattle Supersonics earned a 99-88 win over Minnesota, beating the Timberwolves for the fourth straight time dating back to last season.
Four other SuperSonics scored in double-figures as Kurt Thomas dropped 18 points and had eight rebounds, Luke Ridnour and Kevin Durant each added 13 points and Damien Wilkins netted 10 for the Sonics, winners of back-to-back contests.
The SuperSonics won despite scoring just 11 points in the first quarter.
"They just shredded us in the first quarter," Sonics coach PJ Carlesimo said. "It wasn't looking very good, but we got a real lift off the bench. the guys that came in of the bench really got us back in the game. Kurt Thomas was unbelievable, he had a great game."
Al Jefferson was the leading scorer for Minnesota, as he tallied 22 points and gathered 16 rebounds. Rashad McCants had 17 points, Corey Brewer scored 11 and both Chris Richard and Marko Jaric had 10 apiece, but Minnesota dropped its third straight and fell to 3-18 on the season, tying the worst start (1991-92) after 21 games in franchise history.
"It's games like this that you just kind wonder what we (have) to do to get these wins," McCants said. "We have these teams by the throat, but we just can't put them down."
Minnesota pulled within five points, 77-72, on a Ryan Gomes dunk with 10:11 left in the game, but Seattle's offense was too potent and the team pulled away. At the 3:57 mark in the final quarter, the Sonics owned a 15-point, 95-80 lead thanks to a Ridnour bucket.
The Sonics went into the half down 46-43, which was surprising as the team recorded only 11 first quarter points to their opponents' 26. The Timberwolves scored the final 10 points of the opening quarter, capped by Richard's layup.
Ten straight Seattle points tied the game at 30. Wilcox had an alley-oop layup, and Wally Szczerbiak followed with a jumper to tie the score with 7:02 left in the half. It remained tight from there the rest of the quarter.
The Sonics used an 18-2 run in the third quarter to bolt to a 63-52 advantage. Wilcox had another alley-oop basket during the flurry, and Seattle held a 75-65 cushion going into the fourth.
Game Notes
The last time these teams faced off, the Sonics trailed by as many as 25 points in the third quarter and were down by 15 entering the fourth. The Sonics closed out the game on a 25-2 run and won 114-106 on March 27. The 25- point lead was the biggest lead the Wolves have ever let slip away...Minnesota trails in the all-time series, 50-22...The T'Wolves will visit KeyArena on December 29.
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