Timberwolves 94, Kings 89

MINNEAPOLIS – Sam Cassell was clutch once again, and the Minnesota Timberwolves salvaged a split at home to start their Western Conference semifinal series.

Cassell scored eight points in the final three minutes, Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 11 rebounds and the Timberwolves closed the game with a 16-1 run to beat the Sacramento Kings 94-89 on Saturday night.

Game 3 is Monday at Sacramento’s raucous Arco Arena, where Minnesota was the only visitor this year to win twice. The Kings, though, have won eight of their last nine playoff games at home and are 138-26 there during the last four regular seasons.

Peja Stojakovic had 26 points and seven rebounds for Sacramento, which wasted a late 10-point lead. The Kings, who trailed the majority of the game, used a 16-2 spurt to go up 88-78 on Doug Christie’s layup with 4:11 left.

Cassell, who had been quiet most of the game after scoring 40 points in a Game 1 loss, was squarely behind the rally.

His jumper in the lane with 2:08 left pulled the Wolves to 88-87. Garnett, fouled by Brad Miller on a loose-ball scramble that knocked over referee Sean Corbin, made two free throws to go give Minnesota the lead with 1:45 remaining.

Christie, who had 15 points, missed a pair of foul shots on the other end, and Cassell knocked down a corner jumper with 24.6 seconds to go to make it 91-88.

Christie’s pressured 3-pointer, which would’ve tied the game, fell short from the corner with 10 seconds remaining.

AP-ES-05-09-04 0036EDT