The Wolves started the month of December in the middle of a five-game road trip, the team's longest stretch of the season away from Target Center. After going 2-1 in November to start the trip, Minnesota earned three consecutive victories, starting with a 13-point win in Phoenix.
That set up a rematch between the Timberwolves and Kings. For the fourth consecutive time — an NBA record — the two teams played to overtime. Kevin Garnett hit two three-pointers in the last 30 seconds of regulation as the Wolves erased a six-point deficit to force overtime, and Sprewell scored a season-high 37 points, including two clutch overtime jumpers, as Minnesota earned a 112-109 win.
Two nights later, Garnett hit the game-winning shot as time expired in a 96-94 win over the Clippers. The Wolves finished the road trip with a 4-1 record, tying the most successful trip away from Target Center in team history.
After a loss at home to Golden State on a three-point buzzer-beater on Dec. 9, the Wolves went on a six-game wining streak. The Wolves won in Washington, 110-91, with three players in double figures, including 16 off the bench from Gary Trent. Minnesota finished the two-game road trip with a 116-95 blowout win over the Celtics, the biggest win over Boston in team history. Prior to the game, the Wolves placed center Michael Olowokandi on the Injured List after successful surgery on his right knee and signed free agent center Oliver Miller.
A three-game homestand followed and resulted in three more wins. Sam Cassell, who started his career in Houston, scored 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lift the Wolves to a 92-75 victory over the Rockets. In the next game, Garnett recorded his first triple-double of the season (13th career) with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Timberwolves held off a late surge for a 114-109 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Before the finale of the homestand, the Wolves activated guard Troy Hudson from the Injured List and waived forward Quincy Lewis. Hudson, who sprained his right ankle in the team's final preseason game versus Indiana on Oct. 23, had missed the club's first 25 games of the regular season. The Wolves then routed the visiting Pacers, 102-80. Garnett was named
Western Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 22, after averaging 27.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 4.0 blocks per game during the four games of the preceding week.
In a rematch against the Knicks, this time in New York, Sprewell scored 31 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:14 to play, in a 98-92 victory that extended the team's winning streak to six games. The streak ended three nights later with a 101-92 loss in Portland, but Minnesota started another win streak by recording victories against Seattle and Chicago in the final two games of the month.
Cassell was named
Western Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 29 after averaging 24.7 points and 7.3 assists on the coast-to-coast three-game road trip. The award marked the first time in franchise history that Wolves players have won weekly honors in back-to-back weeks.
Minnesota finished the month with an 11-2 record, the best December in franchise history, surpassing a 10-5 record in 2001-02. In addition, the Wolves improved their league-best road record to 12-5. Garnett earned his first
Player of the Month honor of the season (fifth career) after averaging 26.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.54 blocks during December.
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