Wolves Take 2-1 Series Lead

Timberwolves 114, Kings 113, OT

SACRAMENTO, May 10 - Sacramento Kings forward Peja Stojakovic, ice cold for three quarters, put on a jaw-dropping shooting exhibition that brought his team from 15 points down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to the edge of victory in overtime. But Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, made the game's biggest shot, a fadeaway 12-footer as the shot clock expired in overtime, to give his team enough breathing room to survive a 114-113 victory in the heart-stopping, Western Conference semifinal at Arco Arena Monday night.

The incredible finish to an incredible game left the Timberwolves with a 2-1 series lead heading into Wednesday's fourth game of the best-of-seven series that, so far, has been nothing but a steady diet of high drama.

"The shot, I don't think I had much time, I was trying to be aggressive, I saw I had the middle open, took a couple dribbles and raised up," Garnett said of his late bucket. "My whole mentality in overtime was to be aggressive."

After Garnett's shot put the Timberwolves up 114-111, Minnesota fouled Stojakovic before he had a chance to attempt another three-pointer. He scored 22 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and was on such a roll, it seemed anything he shot was almost certain to go in. He made both free throws to cut the deficit to one with less than 10 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves called timeout to set up an inbounds play but after Garnett took the pass near his bench, he fell to the ground in a scrum and was called for traveling with four seconds left.

Everyone in the arena seemed to hold their collective breaths for the final play, which, as was expected, was called for Stojakovic. But his final shot attempt fell short - he claimed he was fouled by Trenton Hassell -- and the Timberwolves celebrated on the Kings' court for the third straight time this season, the first two coming in the regular season.

"We lost the game," a dejected Stojakovic said. "We can't rely on a last-second shot. We did make a great effort in the fourth quarter and came back in overtime. We just didn't have enough energy."

Garnett scored a game-high 30 points, inflicting significant damage in the fourth quarter and overtime - the stretch when the best players are supposed to shine. Teammate Latrell Sprewell added 25 points. Guards Hassell (16 points) and Fred Hoiberg (14 points), whose big third-quarter efforts helped the Timberwolves take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, made up for a tough night by point guard Sam Cassell (nine points, 4-of-14 shooting, fouled out with 1:30 left in regulation).

Stojakovic gave the Kings a chance to stage a rally as impressive as Minnesota's comeback in Game 2, when it closed with a 16-1 run to win, 94-89. Tonight he keyed a 17-4 run - the final shot a three-pointer - to tie the game 104 in regulation. He also scored all nine of the Kings' points in overtime. Yet, what won't be lost in his showcase performance are the three free throws he missed in that stretch, points that could have left his team in a favorable position.

"It happens," Stojakovic said.

That the game ended up so close is no surprise, since all three games in this series have been decided by a total of 11 points. However, the Timberwolves seemed to have the victory firmly in hand after Hassell and Hoiberg keyed a 17-7 run over a four-minute stretch late in the third quarter to leave Minnesota with a 79-69 advantage heading into the final period.

At the same time, the Kings made the same kind of head-scratching mistakes that have prevented them from potential championship runs in the past. And Stojakovic had connected on just 2 of 12 shots.

Then, Garnett opened the final period with a series of easy baskets to give the Timberwolves a much-needed 15-point cushion. After Mike Bibby (19 points) made some big shots, Stojakovic got going. He cut his team's deficit to 101-99 with 31 seconds left on a three-pointer and was fouled on the play. He missed the free throw, however, and Timberwolves' backup point guard Darrick Martin made one of two foul shots, leaving the Kings 25 seconds to tie.

Sacramento went for two quick points, which forward Chris Webber (17 points) provided with a short jump hook with 20 seconds remaining. Sacramento put Martin back on the line and this time he made both free throws, setting up Stojakovic's game-tying basket that would force overtime.

"We should let it hurt us," Webber said of the loss. "Hopefully the pain will sink in. We need to feel how bad it feels to lose the game."