Wolves make quick work of Knicks

Minnesota scored 42 points in the first quarter and breezed to its sixth victory in nine games against a team that appeared to be mailing it in.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: March 24, 2008 - 1:11 AM

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WOLVES 114, NEW YORK 93

Up next: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday • at Houston • TV: Ch. 45 (106.1-FM)

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There's a reason why the New York Knickerbockers' traveling road uniforms look a bit like outfits worn by U.S. Postal Service employees, a proud collection of men and women who know all about mailing things in.

The Timberwolves set a franchise record for most points in a first quarter by scoring 42 and owned a season-high 69 points by halftime in a 114-93 rout Saturday night at Target Center over a Knicks team obviously playing for its future -- as in its improving its lottery chances.

By the time it was all over, the Wolves also tied their season high for assists with 29, scored their most fast-break points (25) since March 31, 2006, shot 67.5 percent in the first half and won for the sixth time in their past nine games and for the 13th time in their past 30 after they beginning the season 5-34.

They also matched their largest margin of victory this season on a night when star forward Al Jefferson delivered eight points and a career-high six assists before sitting the entire fourth quarter with the game already well in hand.

"Any time I can score eight points and we win by 20 points, it's all good," said Jefferson, who failed to reach double-figure scoring for only the third time this season and for the first time since Jan. 11 at Houston.

He probably wouldn't turn down another chance to play the Knicks, either.

These two teams last met each other in the season's second game, the first Sunday night in November when New York started Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry and Quentin Richardson and won by four points at Madison Square Garden.

On Saturday, the Knicks lost for the 11th time in 12 games with a gerrymandered starting lineup -- Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Randolph Morris, Fred Jones and Crawford -- that trailed from the opening tap to finish, and by margins of 14-4, 35-20 and 42-24 in the first quarter alone. Those 42 points were one more than the previous franchise record of 41, achieved against Sacramento in February 2001.

"The first quarter was a nightmare," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said.

On Friday night, the Wolves scored 113 points, and lost by 11 at Indiana. On Saturday, they scored 114 and never led by fewer than 12 points after halftime.

"The only difference was we played no kind of defense last night," Jefferson said Saturday night.

The Wolves entered the game two victories behind the Knicks. Wolves coach Randy Wittman challenged his team to play the game as if his players needed to catch New York for an eighth and final playoff spot. Throughout the game, he played taskmaster -- reminding his players to keep their attention keen during timeout huddles, chastising them for blaming each other while the Knicks meanwhile scored an easy basket -- in an attempt to keep their minds focused while success came so easily Saturday.

"He's preparing us for the future," Wolves forward Craig Smith said.

In doing so, the Wolves won their 18th game, one victory behind the sinking Knicks' 19 victories in conflicting races for respectability and increased draft-lottery chances.

"We're building momentum for ourselves," said forward Ryan Gomes, who led the first-quarter race toward the basket. "Hopefully, a lot of us will re-sign here this summer and be here for years to come. We're setting the table. We don't want to lose. We want to win as many games as we can."

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