Timberwolves pull it out

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – When Kevin Garnett’s MVP mettle was tested, The Kid played like a man.

Garnett scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a fall-away jumper to beat the shot clock with 10.9 seconds left in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 114-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series Monday night.

With several clutch baskets, Garnett saved Minnesota from a disheartening loss and reclaimed home-court advantage in the series. When Peja Stojakovic’s final shot fell short, Garnett also led the Timberwolves’ joyous charge off the court, while Sacramento fans threw dozens of giveaway plastic rattles on the court to protest the lack of a foul.

With their third win this season at Arco Arena, the Timberwolves took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Sacramento.

Led by a sensational finish for Stojakovic, who scored 22 of his 29 points after the third quarter, the Kings erased a 14-point deficit in the final 4 minutes of regulation, then forced OT by swarming Garnett at the buzzer. The comeback even bested Minnesota’s rally from a 10-point deficit in Game 2.

Stojakovic traded scores with Garnett in an unbearably tense overtime. But after Latrell Sprewell hit a jumper with 59 seconds left to claim a one-point lead for Minnesota, Chris Webber made a turnover.

Minnesota nearly ran out of time for a shot, but Garnett jumped backward and dropped a difficult jumper.

Stojakovic hit two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, and Garnett was called for traveling 2 seconds later. Sacramento got the ball to Stojakovic, but he failed to draw a foul from Trenton Hassell before time expired.