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Sixers-Wolves: 56k | 300k 
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There were 17 lead changes and two ties in the fourth quarter and neither team led by more than three points until Cassell made two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining, running his streak to 54 in a row.
Garnett collected 32 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists as he came alive in the second half. Cassell had 29 points, nine assists and six rebounds as he continued his push for his first career All-Star berth.
"We executed down the stretch," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "We got the ball to KG when he was hot and he got some open looks."
A layup by Garnett gave Minnesota a 98-97 lead with 1:28 to go. After two free throws by Allen Iverson, Garnett drew a foul from Samuel Dalembert and sank a pair from the line for a 100-99 edge with 26 seconds left.
"I thought Garnett got a favorable call down the stretch," 76ers coach Randy Ayers. "I thought he had lost possession of the ball ... The foul on Dalembert really surprised me."
Iverson, who had 28 points and nine assists, found Eric Snow, who missed an open jumper. Mark Madsen rebounded and quickly handed the ball to Cassell, whose two foul shots with 15 seconds remaining gave the Timberwolves a 102-99 lead.
Iverson drove for a quick layup and Cassell again was fouled, making two more free throws. On the next possession, Iverson appeared to unnecessarily rush a three-pointer that was well short, and Cassell added two more from the line.
Latrell Sprewell scored 21 points for the Timberwolves, who appeared listless at the outset of their first home game following a 2-1 road trip.
"Traveling from LA trying to adjust to an early game, it's not easy," Garnett said. "We got down a little bit, but we made up for it in the second half."
"Been there, done that," saunders said. "We all knew it was going to be a very difficult game after coming back from the West Coast."
Glenn Robinson scored 27 points and Kenny Thomas added 16 and 15 rebounds for the 76ers, who have lost eight of their last 10 games.
"The first thing I said to my teammates was, 'That's embarrassing,'" Iverson said. "To have a team down the way we did and let them get back in the game like that ... to me, that shows no heart. It sould have never gotten to that."
With Thomas outplaying Garnett, the Sixers got off to a flying start. Robinson's jumper opened a 54-36 lead with 4:51 left in the second quarter.
"It's tough anytime you play early in the day," Cassell said. "We're not a good 2:30 or 3:00 team, but we find a way to win."
The Wolves closed to 63-52 at halftime, then got back in it in the third quarter, when Garnett scored 12 points and Iverson did not have a basket.
The teams traded the lead 10 times in the fourth quarter before Snow, who scored 15 points, made a layup for a 92-89 lead with 5:53 left. Cassell tied it with a 3-pointer and Garnett provided a 94-92 lead with a jumper at the 4:13 mark.