The Wolves kept rolling during January, winning 12 of 15 games played during the month, including a pair of five-game winning streaks. The month opened with a 93-75 home win over Atlanta, with six players scoring in double figures, then the Wolves lost for the second time of the season in Dallas, 119-112.

The first five-game streak began at Target Center with a 106-90 win over the Lakers in the teams' first meeting since the 2003 Playoffs. The win marked coach Flip Saunders' 350th career regular-season victory. Before the next game, the Wolves signed free agent guard Anthony Goldwire to a 10-day contract and waived guard Keith McLeod. The Wolves then won two consecutive home games, 96-75 over Portland and 83-77 over Miami.

Minnesota then headed on a three-game road trip. In New Orleans, the Wolves trailed by as many as 12 points and never led until the last two minutes but still earned a 94-89 win. Another come-from-behind win followed, this time at San Antonio. The Wolves went on a 15-3 run late in the fourth quarter to win 100-93. Minnesota took over sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division with the win.

The road trip ended with a 95-76 loss in Houston, but Latrell Sprewell scored his 15,000th career point in the game; he now ranks ninth among active career scorers. Goldwire was signed to his second 10-day contract before the contest.

The next five-game winning streak started right after the loss in Houston. At home against New Orleans on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, after 14 lead changes in the fourth quarter, the Wolves pulled out a seven-point win. Sam Cassell scored 14 points in the final period in Toronto two days later as Minnesota took a 108-97 win.

Back home against Detroit, the Wolves held on for an 80-79 win after former Wolf Chauncey Billups was whistled for an offensive foul with two seconds remaining. The final home game of the month, against Phoenix, was the team's 11th consecutive win at Target Center, a 99-95 decision. Garnett earned his second Player of the Week award on Jan. 26 as the Wolves moved into a tie with Sacramento atop the Western Conference standings at 30-12.

The following night in Denver, the Wolves began a three-game road trip to end the month. Sprewell tipped in a rebound with 16 seconds left, giving the Wolves a 97-95 win, which clinched coach Flip Saunders' first trip to the All-Star Game. After the game, the Wolves released Goldwire.

The Warriors ended the Wolves' winning streak with a 97-90 decision despite a Garnett triple-double (20 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists). Cassell was limited to 31 minutes because of foul trouble, but he bounced back two days later, combining with Sprewell for 63 points in a 97-84 win in L.A. against the Lakers. Sprewell scored 19 points in the third as Minnesota erased a 12-point deficit, while Cassell scored 16 of his 28 in the last quarter. Prior to the game, the Wolves signed free agent guard (and former Timberwolf) Darrick Martin to a 10-day contract.

Garnett earned his second consecutive Player of the Week award (announced Feb. 2) as well as his second Player of the Month in as many months. The 12 wins in January tied a franchise record for wins in a calendar month, achieved on four previous occasions. At 32-13, the Wolves ended the month one-half game behind Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference.

31

Jan 2

21-10

Garnett 18

Garnett 15

17,074

32

Jan 3

@ Dallas

21-11

Cassell 34

Garnett 22

19,936

33

Jan 6

22-11

Sprewell 30

Garnett 18

34

Jan 8

23-11

Garnett 26

Garnett 14

15,599

35

Jan 10

24-11

Garnett 28

Garnett 17

17,026

36

Jan 13

@ New Orleans

25-11

Sprewell 26

Garnett 14

14,701

37

Jan 14

@ San Antonio

26-11

Cassell 33

Garnett 10

17,411

38

Jan 17

@ Houston

26-12

Cassell 25

Garnett 7

18,145

39

Jan 19

27-12

Garnett 29

Garnett 15

17,117

40

Jan 21

@ Toronto

28-12

Cassell 30

Garnett 11

18,846

41

Jan 23

29-12

Garnett 22

Garnett 17

42

Jan 25

30-12

Cassell 32

Garnett 17

16,002

43

Jan 26

@ Denver

31-12

Garnett 31

Garnett 13

15,320

44

Jan 28

@ Golden State

31-13

Sprewell 27

Garnett 20

18,112

45

Jan 30

@ L.A. Lakers

32-13

Sprewell 35

Garnett 11

18,997