Brandon's overtime shooting lifts Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Terrell Brandon missed two chances Saturday night to win the game in regulation. He made up for it in overtime.
Brandon, who went 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter, made a 15-foot jumper with 2:08 left in the extra period to tie the game and a pair of free throws with 18.6 seconds remaining to clinch it as Minnesota beat Indiana 113-110.
Jalen Rose, who had all of the Pacers' nine points in overtime and 31 for the game, missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
Brandon, missed a jumper with 28 seconds left in regulation and came up short again as the buzzer sounded.
Brandon said the second shot sparked memories of former teammate Malik Sealy, who was killed in May in an auto accident. Sealy's 3-pointer in overtime beat the Pacers last January.
"That's why I was hoping to get the last shot," Brandon said. "It was the same situation, the same spot on the floor. I was disappointed, but we won the game, so I can't get too emotional about it."
Kevin Garnett was also valuable for the Timberwolves in overtime, scoring six of his season-high 34 points in the extra period.
He also had Sealy's shot last season on his mind.
"I thought about it before the game," said Garnett, who also had a season-high 20 rebounds. "I didn't want it to be more of a distraction, but (rather) motivation. I'm probably not the only guy to think about it."
Anthony Peeler put the Wolves ahead 111-109 on a jumper with 45 seconds left. Rose then made only one of two free throws with 20.6 seconds left, missing a chance to tie.
The game featured 17 ties and 14 lead changes. Neither team led by more than seven points.
"We just didn't close well with free throws," said Indiana's Reggie Miller, who scored 20 points. "You think it's so simple, but when the game is on the line, that's when you have to concentrate a little bit more."
Minnesota made 35 of 39 attempts from the line, both season highs. The Timberwolves went 18-for-19 from the foul line en route to a 57-51 halftime lead.
Minnesota entered the game ranked second in the league in free-throw percentage (79.5), but third-from-last in attempts (21.4 per game).
Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal had a career-high 30 points for Indiana. Rose, O'Neal and Miller accounted for all but 29 of the Pacers' points.
"He's been one of those underrated players," Garnett said of O'Neal. "Tonight I wasn't shocked at all. He's one of those beasts from the East."
Indiana is just 2-7 against Western Conference opponents.
Garnett, who tied the game at 101 on a jump shot with 1:10 left in regulation, led six Timberwolves in double figures. Chauncey Billups and Brandon each had 16 points, LaPhonso Ellis had 14, and Anthony Peeler and Wally Szczerbiak each had 12.
Garnett, who had a triple-double Friday night against Detroit, recorded his 17th double-double Saturday.
Notes: Pacers coach Isiah Thomas shuffled his lineup, giving Jeff Foster his first start of the season in place of Austin Croshere. ... Minnesota completed its seventh set of back-to-back games Saturday. The Timberwolves, who won on consecutive nights for just the second time, have two more sets of games scheduled on consecutive nights before Dec. 25. ... Indiana is 4-9 on the road this season.
INDIANA (110)
Harrington 2-9 0-2 4, Foster 1-3 0-2 2, O'Neal 11-18 8-10 30, R.Miller 7-13 5-6 20, Rose 12-26 6-7 31, Best 4-9 3-5 11, Croshere 2-3 1-1 6, Tabak 3-4 0-0 6, McKey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-85 23-33 110.
MINNESOTA (113)
Szczerbiak 4-11 4-4 12, Garnett 12-25 10-12 34, Garrett 0-0 0-0 0, Billups 6-10 3-4 16, Brandon 5-17 5-5 16, Nesterovic 3-5 0-0 6, Peeler 4-7 4-4 12, Mitchell 1-1 0-0 2, Ellis 3-6 8-8 14, Hammonds 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 38-82 35-39 113.
Indiana 24 27 25 25 9 -- 110
Minnesota 28 29 21 23 12 -- 113
3-Point Goals--Indiana 3-8 (Croshere 1-1, R.Miller 1-3, Rose 1-4), Minnesota 2-8 (Billups 1-2, Brandon 1-2, Peeler 0-2, Szczerbiak 0-2). Fouled out--Ellis. Rebounds--Indiana 52 (O'Neal 9), Minnesota 49 (Garnett 20). Assists--Indiana 29 (Best 13), Minnesota 31 (Brandon 8). Total fouls--Indiana 31, Minnesota 29. Technicals--O'Neal, Minnesota Illegal Defense. A--17,249 (19,006).