Minnesota (20-19) 112, Sonics (27-11) 107
January 21, 2005
MINNESOTA COACH FLIP SAUNDERS:
On the game:
I thought the big difference was that we came out and played aggressive for most of the game and we did a good job overall defending threes and we executed. To score 112 points and only get six off of fast break means that you are getting good offensive execution.
On his team:
I told our guys that over the last ten days we are starting to play better. We haven’t scratched out maybe a few of the wins we maybe could have but we are doing things better.
On Wally Szczerbiak's performance:
He knows that he is going to get touches when he goes in the game. Minute-wise, he’s still probably in the top three on our team. It was a good effort.
On the Northwest Division race:
It’s big because they have a big lead right now. They have seven of the next 12 at home until the All-Star break. We have an opportunity, if we continue to play like this, to make a run. We have to get that loss column down to about five with 25 games to go to make a run. We are a team that tends to make runs starting in late January. Hopefully, we will continue to play like this and get on a roll.
FORWARD WALLY SZCZERBIAK:
On the game:
It was fun. I just wanted to play hard and play aggressive and just bring it. If you don’t go out there and lay it on the line you are not to going to win the way you should.
On coming off the bench:
I’m trying to get used to it. I still would like to start, but we are trying something different with this team to try and spark us. It worked out tonight. As long as I get my minutes and as long as coach gets me involved in the game, then I don’t mind it.
FORWARD KEVIN GARNETT:
On getting the win:
It was a pretty big game. They are leading the conference and are one of the better teams right now. They are in our conference, so when you win its almost like you win twice. It makes us just a little bit closer to that first spot. We are a team with a lot of confidence and tonight we played like it.
Notes:
The Sonics lost consecutive games for just the second time all season. Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 3-5 without injured guard Sam Cassell.
The Timberwolves used a 14-0 run that spanned the first and second quarters to take the lead and never trailed again, leading by as many as 16 points.
Ray Allen scored 13 of his team-high 25 points in the second quarter.
Luke Ridnour scored a career-high 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting (3-for-3 from downtown).
Vladimir Radmanovic (15 points, 10 rebounds) recorded his third double-double this season.
Jerome James (11) scored double-figures for the second time this season.
The Minnesota bench scored an incredible 72 points. The Timberwolves starters had just 40 points, the Sonics reserves 30.
The 72 bench points were a Timberwolves record (previously 69 @ DAL 4/18/01).
Wally Szczerbiak scored a season-high 34 points, the first time he’s reached the 30-point barrier since 2002-03. Szczerbiak tied his season high with 10 free throws and shot 11-for-19.
Szczerbiak added a season-high eight assists.
Troy Hudson tied his season high with 20 points and with four three-pointers.
Kevin Garnett scored 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting, but failed to record a double-double for just the fourth time this season (but the second straight). His eight rebounds tied a season low.
Minnesota’s 37 second-quarter points tied their season high for a quarter (37 vs. SAC, 4th, 12/10/04). Their 62 first-half points were a season high for the first half.
The Timberwolves shot a season-high 58.1% from the field, 62.5% in the first half.
After shooting 2-for-30 from downtown the last two games, Minnesota shot 10-for-17 (58.8%).
The Sonics committed a season-low six turnovers two games after a season-high 23 vs. CLE.
2004-05 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
