Timberwolves hit sour note

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Matt Harpring has definitely figured out how to play in Utah's offense.

The free-agent pickup scored a career high for the second straight game with 33 points Friday night in Utah's 95-77 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"I was just running around having fun," said Harpring, who signed with Utah in August after spending last season with Philadelphia. "I don't go into a game expecting to get lots of shots. Whatever happens, happens."

Everybody is having fun on the Jazz, whose six-game winning streak matches their longest of last season. Karl Malone scored 20 points and Jarron Collins had 12 and a season-high nine rebounds.

Harpring, who had 30 points Tuesday night in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, is the first Jazz player other than Malone with back-to-back 30-point games since 1986, when Adrian Dantley did it during Malone's rookie season.

Harpring has never averaged more than 11.8 points in his first four seasons. He made his first seven shots -- many of them against Kevin Garnett, who is 4 inches taller.

"I got into a rhythm tonight early and my teammates kept looking for me," Harpring said. "It's fun playing with those guys out there. You cut and they find you."

Harpring finished 13-of-18 from the field and made all four of his 3-point attempts. He topped the 20-point mark for the fifth time during Utah's winning streak.

"Harpring is playing extremely well. He scored a lot from pure ability and off the transition," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.

Utah held Minnesota to 3-of-20 shooting during the fourth quarter. The Wolves shot 37 percent for the game.

"We weren't as aggressive as we should have been. We were passing on shots and then settling for jump shots," said Garnett, who led the Wolves with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Rasho Nesterovic added 16 points for Minnesota, which closed to 79-72 early in the fourth quarter before Utah's defense clamped down. Punctuated by Andrei Kirilenko's block of Garnett's shot and a steal by John Stockton, the Jazz kept Minnesota scoreless for more than five minutes and built an 86-72 lead.

"They just made all the hustle plays -- offensive rebounds, loose balls and easy baskets in transition," said reserve guard Rod Strickland, who had 12 points.

The Wolves, who had won three in a row on the road, hoped to get off to a better start on their six-game, 11-day Western Conference road trip.

No team could open a double-digit lead until Harpring's 3-pointer sparked a 8-2 run late in the third quarter that gave Utah a 77-66 lead.

Notes: Utah had a season-high 12 blocked shots, led by four from Greg Ostertag. ... Garnett was whistled for a technical in the first quarter for pushing Kirilenko. ... The longest ovation of the night was for former Utah football coach Ron McBride, who was fired Monday after 13 seasons. ... The game marked the first time backup point guard Mark Jackson played as many minutes as Stockton. Each played 24.

MINNESOTA (77)

Trent 2-6 0-1 4, Garnett 9-19 2-5 21, Nesterovic 7-15 2-2 16, Hudson 4-10 2-2 10, Gill 0-8 2-4 2, J.Smith 3-8 2-2 8, Strickland 6-10 0-0 12, Marc.Jackson 0-2 0-2 0, Peeler 1-7 0-0 3, Rakocevic 0-0 0-0 0, Slater 0-0 1-4 1. Totals 32-85 11-22 77.

UTAH (95)

Harpring 13-18 3-3 33, Malone 9-21 2-4 20, Ostertag 1-2 1-2 3, Stockton 3-12 4-4 10, Cheaney 2-7 0-0 4, Mark.Jackson 1-4 2-2 4, Kirilenko 1-6 4-6 6, Padgett 1-7 1-2 3, Collins 3-6 6-8 12, Arroyo 0-1 0-0 0, Stevenson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-84 23-31 95.

Minnesota 26 23 19 9 -- 77

Utah 29 19 29 18 -- 95

3-Point Goals--Minnesota 2-7 (Garnett 1-1, Peeler 1-4, Gill 0-1, Hudson 0-1), Utah 4-5 (Harpring 4-4, Padgett 0-1). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 53 (Garnett 13), Utah 69 (Collins, Harpring 9). Assists--Minnesota 18 (Hudson 5), Utah 22 (Stockton 9). Total fouls--Minnesota 22, Utah 16. Technicals--Garnett. A--18,644 (19,911).