Garnett keeps busy
Kevin Garnett’s play drew nearly as much attention as his pregame criticism of Minnesota Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale.
Garnett had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists to lead Minnesota to a 109-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
“He dominates in the first three quarters and in the fourth quarter, everybody pays attention to him and he finds everybody else,” Gilbert Arenas said. “That’s why he’s No. 1 in the world.”
Wally Szczerbiak scored 17 points, and Richie Frahm and Troy Hudson added 16.
“It took a little load off me,” said Garnett, of his teammates’ scoring.
Garnett then handled questions about his pregame comment on TNT that last year McHale “wanted in his heart to coach, but he didn’t want the responsibility of being a coach.”
McHale took over for the fired Flip Saunders halfway through a disappointing season, filled with player bickering and lackluster performances.
“Kevin has a very, very high basketball IQ,” Garnett said after the game. “But managing egos and things, I don’t think he wants to do that.”
McHale said he knows Garnett was frustrated with last season, in which the Wolves failed to make the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
“I hope he wants to be here,” McHale said after the game. “There’s a lot of uneasiness in the changes we’ve made.”
Spurs 86, Rockets 80: At San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 19 points and nine rebounds, and San Antonio held off a late surge by Houston.
Tony Parker scored 17 points for the Spurs, and Robert Horry added 16 – including a key 3-pointer late in the game. Manu Ginobili had 15 points and four steals. San Antonio dominated inside, scoring 52 points in the paint.
Mavericks 87, Hawks 78: At Dallas, Josh Howard had 25 points and five blocked shots, and Dirk Nowitzki added 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping Dallas beat Atlanta and extend the Hawks’ season-opening losing streak to eight games.
Divac answers military charges
Former NBA center Vlade Divac wants to get his military status straightened out.
He was surprised to learn that his native Serbia-Montenegro wants him for the army, and is accusing him of avoiding its military draft.
The Serbian media reported that Divac arrived in Belgrade and would meet today with defense minister Zoran Stankovic. Divac didn’t sound worried before his trip.
“In my opinion, this is a non-issue and it will be resolved in the next couple of days.”
Notes
The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers signed free-agent guard Howard Eisley. … Utah forward Carlos Boozer will miss at least another month because of a hamstring injury that has kept him from playing this season. … Mavericks guard Doug Christie missed Dallas’ game against the Atlanta Hawks and will be sidelined indefinitely after returning to his home in Seattle to have his sore right ankle examined by his personal physician.