Malone's 30,000th Not Enough

Karl Malone will reflect on his individual accomplishments when he's finished playing. That is, while the rest of the NBA contends with a peaking Kevin Garnett.

Garnett had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Minnesota withstood Malone's historic 35-point performance as the Timberwolves beat the Utah Jazz 96-94 on Saturday.

"I'll save my stat sheet," said the 23-year old Garnett, who looks forward to the day he can tell folk tales of playing with Malone.

"Save your videos. Save today's game. Save the stat sheets if you have them," Garnett told reporters. "This is history."

"It's amazing," Utah's Jeff Hornacek said of his teammates feat. "He does it night in and night out. You don't get to 30,000 without being consistent."

Malone, who had 13 rebounds, wasn't as willing to talk about his own statistics. Utah has lost three straight for the first time since losing four in a row from Jan. 6-11, 1997.

"It's not all about the individual," Malone said. "It's a team game. I'll take a win any day. After I finish playing, then I'll kick back and think about it."

Anthony Peeler had 15 points off the bench for Minnesota, which has won 17 of 21 since snapping an eight-game losing streak. It is the first time the Timberwolves have beaten the Jazz three times in a season.

Terrell Brandon had 15 points and seven assists for Minnesota before turning his left ankle with 4:40 lft in the game. Brandon was writhing in pain for a few minutes, and had to be carried off the court.

He was taken to a hospital for X-rays, which came back negative. Team officials said that he has an ankle sprain and will be reevaluated on Sunday.

"We'll cross our fingers that he's OK," coach Flip Saunders said. "It was kind of a freak thing that happened. I'm sure, either way, he'll be out a little bit."

Utah trailed 66-57 to start the fourth and got within 85-79 with 2:36 remaining, but Garnett and Peeler each hit shots to extend the lead back to 10.

After the teams traded baskets twice, Stockton hit a shot and two free throws to bring the Jazz within 92-88 with 29.3 seconds left.

Malik Sealy and Sam Mitchell each hit a free throw and Malone and Bryon Russell each made shots to bring Utah within 94-92 with 7.3 seconds left. Garnett had two free throws with 6.5 seconds left to seal it.

Jeff Hornacek had 13 points and John Stockton scored 12 for Utah, which looks to get back on track against Seattle on Tuesday.

"It's just part of basketball," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said of his team's rare losing streak. "We're a little older team now and we played some teams that have worn us down."

"Minnesota deserved to win. They outplayed us at the end of the game."

Brandon scored eight points during a third-quarter run as Minnesota extended its halftime lead to 51-38 with 7:45 left.

Both teams shot under 40 percent in the first quarter, with Minnesota taking an 18-17 lead.

Utah continued its poor shooting in the second, scoring just 12 points in the quarter. It was the second time this season that Minnesota held Utah to just 29 points in the first half.

Sealy banked in a buzzer-beater from five feet beyond the arc to give the Wolves a 41-29 lead at halftime.

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