Timberwovlves Rally To Beat Struggling Nets
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Al Jefferson had a career-high 40 points and 19 rebounds, hit the go-ahead free throws with 11.4 seconds to go, and lifted the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 98–95 victory last over the Nets, who have lost nine in a row.
Richard Jefferson scored 35 points and Vince Carter added 25. But Carter attempted an ill-advised fall-away jumper with the Nets clinging to a 95-94 lead in the final 25 seconds. Al Jefferson hit his free throws, and Richard Jefferson missed a short jumper on the other end to extend New Jersey’s skid, its longest since November 2004.
It was a stunning turnaround for the improving Timberwolves, who trailed by 15 points with 11 minutes to go.
But rookie Corey Brewer came through with some surprising offense in the crunch, scoring all of his eight points in the final 8 minutes to give Al Jefferson some much-needed help.
Until that point, the big fella had carried the Wolves all by himself to keep them in the game. He scored 20 of the team’s 38 first half points.
