FINAL (Timberwolves 108, Kings 99)
MINNEAPOLIS - From the 8:11 minute point of the fourth quarter on , the Kings were aggressive and played with fire.
Too bad they trailed by 20 at that point.
Down 94-74 the Kings went on a 16-2 run to make it 96-90 with 3:08 left in the game. When the Timberwolves tried to run away, the Kings kept it close.
Tyreke Evans' dunk made the score 104-99 with 47.1 seconds left. But Minnesota scored the last four points of the game to end their 16-game losing streak.
The Kings have lost six straight.
Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Tyreke Evans had 20 points and 13 assists for the Kings.
THIRD QUARTER (Timberwolves 87, Kings 70)
MINNEAPOLIS - At this point it's hard to tell what's worse tonight: The Kings offense or defense.
The Timberwolves are shooting 57.6 percent compared to 44.3 percent for the Kings. And Minnesota, which has lost 16 straight games, is making this look easy.
Five Timberwolves have scored in double figures led by Jonny Flynn's 18 points. Donte' Greene has 18 points off the bench for the Kings.
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HALFTIME (Timberwolves 53, Kings 44)
MINNEAPOLIS - Right now the Kings can't stop Darko Milicic.
That's not a mistake.
Milicic, the much maligned player taken second in the 2003 NBA Draft after LeBron James and before Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, etc., is looking god thus far.
He has 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. With Spencer Hawes out the Kings' lack of size is evident as Carl Landry had to defend Milicic briefly.
Jonny Flynn has 13 points and five assists for Minnesota.
Meanwhile the Kings offense has tailed off. They're shooting 43.6 percent from the field. Tyreke Evans has 11 points. Jason Thompson, Andres Nocioni and Landry all have eight points.
Minnesota has 28 points in the points in the paint and is outrebounding the Kings 26-16.
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FIRST QUARTER (Kings 31, Timberwolves 31)
MINNEAPOLIS - It might be a safe assumption that neither team will use the first quarter as an example of their best defense.
The Kings shot 60 percent while the Timberwolves shot 56 percent. Both teams have just one turnover.
Tyreke Evans leads all scorers with 10 points. He also has three assists. Andres Nocioni has eight points.
Ryan Gomes leads Minnesota with seven points. Al Jefferson has six points and five rebounds.
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Here's who's in and out for tonight's game against the Timberwolves:
Out: Spencer Hawes (left hamstring contusion) and Sean May (knee). Both are listed at day-to-day.
In: Omri Casspi (virus) and Francisco Garcia (wrist).
When it comes to Casspi and Garcia, coach Paul Westphal isn't sure how much either can play.
Without Hawes, Jason Thompson will start at center. He'll be joined by Carl Landry and Andres Nocioni at the forward spots and Beno Udrih and Tyreke Evans in the backcourt.
--Jason Jones
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