Garnett (44) stops Suns' streak at 17
The hard-driving Phoenix Suns finally hit a roadblock in Kevin Garnett.
Garnett almost single-handedly snapped the Suns' 17-game winning streak last night, scoring 44 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 121-112 victory at Minneapolis.
The All-Star forward was everywhere in the final period, dropping turnaround jumper after turnaround jumper to give Phoenix its first loss of 2007.
He scored 15 points in the fourth, including a looping fallaway from the baseline that gave Minnesota a 118-109 lead with 1:55 to play, and put new coach Randy Wittman on his way to a win in his home debut.
"People who say he can't carry the load, take a look at this game film," Wittman said.
"It's just about being a presence," Garnett said. "It's about making them have to deal with me. I will continue to take that approach."
Raja Bell scored 26 points and Steve Nash had 20 points and 18 assists for the Suns, who were looking to tie the fourth-longest winning streak in NBA history.
But one night after downing LeBron James and the Cavaliers for No. 17, the Suns couldn't find an answer for Garnett and uncharacteristically lost their offensive mojo in the fourth quarter.
After scoring 95 points in the first three quarters, Phoenix managed just 17 in the fourth.
"Better to lose that way than to lose when we beat ourselves," Nash said. "Kevin was sensational. We just didn't make shots at the end at the clip Kevin was making them."
Nets 116, Jazz 115 -- Vince Carter pulled up from 35 feet and made a 3-pointer at the buzzer as New Jersey ended a five-game road trip with back-to-back wins.
Carter scored 29 of his 33 points in the second half, including a one-handed dunk that got New Jersey within 114-113 with 6 seconds left.
Deron Williams went 1 for 2 from the line for Utah with 5 seconds to go, setting up Carter.
Bobcats 105, Nuggets 101 -- Gerald Wallace scored 25 points and had a key block of Carmelo Anthony in the final minute of Charlotte's win at Denver.
Rockets 105, 76ers 84 -- Tracy McGrady scored 25 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and Rafer Alston had nine of host Houston's season-high 31 assists.
Grizzlies 124, Kings 117 -- Pau Gasol scored 34 points, hitting 14 of 17 shots, and Mike Miller added 27 to lead host Memphis.
Hawks 93, Magic 83 -- Joe Johnson, who had averaged 31.8 points in the Hawks' last five wins over Orlando, continued to torment the Magic, putting up 34 to help host Atlanta answer a third-quarter challenge.
Hornets 103, Trail Blazers 91 -- David West had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jannero Pargo kept New Orleans's offense going in the fourth quarter, when he scored 12 of his 16 points, at Oklahoma City.
