Wolves continue mastery of Rockets

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Almost every NBA team has an opponent that has its number every time. For the Houston Rockets, solving the Minnesota Timberwolves has been impossible.

Kevin Garnett scored 21 points, and Terrell Brandon had 12 of his 19 in the fourth quarter to lead the Timberwolves to a 106-96 victory Monday. It was Minnesota's sixth straight win over the Rockets.

The Timberwolves prevailed despite 30 points from Houston's Cuttino Mobley. He had a career-high 33 points on Oct. 31 when the teams met in the season opener.

"He is a great player, one of the best in the league," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "He's got an abscessed wisdom tooth and probably shouldn't have even been playing. He went way beyond the call of duty."

But Mobley didn't concentrate on the pain or the 30 points after the game. He was more concerned with the missed opportunity.

HOUSTON (96)

Anderson 2-6 0-2 5, Thomas 4-7 3-6 12, Taylor 5-10 2-2 12, Norris 2-6 2-2 6, Francis 7-17 4-5 20, Mobley 8-18 14-16 30, Bullard 1-5 0-0 3, Williams 1-6 0-0 3, Rogers 1-2 3-4 5. Totals 31-77 28-37 96.

MINNESOTA (106)

Mitchell 1-3 2-2 4, Garnett 7-15 7-9 21, Nesterovic 2-4 0-0 4, Szczerbiak 8-13 3-4 19, Brandon 8-18 2-3 19, Billups 6-12 3-3 16, Ellis 4-8 1-2 9, Peeler 4-6 0-0 9, Slater 1-3 3-4 5. Totals 41-82 21-27 106.

Houston 29 16 30 21 -- 96

Minnesota 25 23 34 24 -- 106

3-Point Goals--Houston 6-17 (Francis 2-6, Anderson 1-1, Williams 1-1, Thomas 1-2, Bullard 1-4, Norris 0-1, Mobley 0-2), Minnesota 3-9 (Peeler 1-2, Billups 1-3, Brandon 1-3, Mitchell 0-1). Fouled out--Francis. Rebounds--Houston 50 (Bullard, Anderson, Thomas, Taylor 6), Minnesota 52 (Szczerbiak 10). Assists--Houston 16 (Anderson 5), Minnesota 35 (Billups 9). Total fouls--Houston 19, Minnesota 29. Technicals--Taylor, Minnesota Illegal Defense. Flagrant fouls--Slater. A--14,779 (19,006).

Knicks win Saturday

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Following a script that elevated them to wins in San Antonio, Phoenix and Philadelphia, the Knicks rolled to their season-best fourth win in a row with an 88-79 victory in Minnesota Saturday night at Target Center. The Knicks are 10-6 on the road this season, 9-6 at home.

"It's one of the best wins we've had in a long time," Coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

With Glen Rice leaving the contest midway through the first quarter with a left foot injury, Sprewell and Houston each scored 27 points.

For good measure, Larry Johnson and Thomas each pulled down 14 rebounds. And as the Knicks did earlier in the season against Minnesota, they kept Kevin Garnett under wraps. He finished with 16 points.

NEW YORK (88)

Rice 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 3-8 2-2 8, Thomas 6-18 0-0 12, Houston 10-19 4-4 27, Sprewell 12-23 2-5 27, Strickland 0-3 0-0 0, Childs 2-5 5-6 10, Longley 1-3 2-2 4, Knight 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-80 15-19 88.

MINNESOTA (79)

Szczerbiak 9-21 4-4 22, Garnett 8-16 0-0 16, Garrett 2-3 0-0 4, Billups 2-4 0-0 5, Brandon 5-14 3-4 13, Peeler 3-14 0-0 6, Nesterovic 0-1 0-0 0, Avery 1-4 2-2 5, Ellis 3-6 2-2 8, Jacobson 0-0 0-0 0, Mitchell 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 33-85 11-12 79.

New York 24 22 24 18 -- 88

Minnesota 21 17 24 17 -- 79

3-Point Goals--New York 5-11 (Houston 3-5, Childs 1-1, Sprewell 1-1, Rice 0-1, Johnson 0-3), Minnesota 2-12 (Billups 1-2, Avery 1-3, Szczerbiak 0-1, Garnett 0-2, Peeler 0-4). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--New York 58 (Johnson, Thomas 14), Minnesota 45 (Garnett 10). Assists--New York 23 (Childs 8), Minnesota 25 (Brandon 10). Total fouls--New York 17, Minnesota 21. A--18,322 (19,006).