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Yi returns with 22 points but Nets lose
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-25 10:56
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: In a season where the breaks haven't gone their way, the Minnesota Timberwolves got a little lucky against the New Jersey Nets.
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In a game that seesawed in the fourth quarter, the big play was an instant replay with 26 seconds to play and the Wolves clinging to a 99-97 lead.
Minnesota inbounded the ball near halfcourt and the pass went to Corey Brewer. Devin Harris and Courtney Lee double-team him and Lee hit the ball out of Brewer's hands and out of bounds.
The officials originally called it out off Brewer and the Nets called time out and went to their bench to set up a play.
The officials then went to the scorer's table and watched videotape replays and it clearly showed the ball went out off Lee, so they overturned the call and awarded the ball to Minnesota.
"We were extremely fortunate," Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said. "It doesn't mean that we wouldn't have played defense and got a stop but we were finally the benefactor of the new rule. It turned out to be a huge play. It was the first time that a call like that went in our favor."
Brewer, who had 17 points, was immediately fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made two free throws for a 101-97 lead.
"I knew it wasn't off me," Brewer said. "I told the ref that it couldn't be off me because I got hit. It was really big to have them change the call. And then I made the free throws to give us a four-point lead. We needed all of those plays because we needed this win."
Harris hit a layup for New Jersey on their next possession to cut the lead to two points but Damien Wilkins converted two free throws with 17.4 seconds to play and the Nets wasted the final 16 seconds, getting a shot by Yi Jianlian near the buzzer.
"I thought we caught a break on that side out of bounds but the refs overturned it, so that was a tough play," said Harris, who led the Nets with 23 points. "We kept putting ourselves in position. You only have so much fight until time runs out and that's literally what it did in the final 16 seconds."
Jonny Flynn added 22 points and Kevin Love had 13 points and 16 rebounds as Minnesota (6-24) swept the two-game season series and sent New Jersey (2-27) to their eighth straight loss.
Yi returned to the lineup after missing seven weeks with a sprained knee and had 22, while Lee had 20.
The Timberwolves appeared to take command early in the fourth quarter. Jefferson, who scored 20 points in the second half, hit four baskets and the Wolves hit 8 of their first 11 shots in a 16-8 spurt that gave them a 92-82 lead.
"That's the Al I want to see," Rambis said. "He made outside shots and was aggressive going to the basket. He was forcing their defense to change direction and then was quick getting his shot off. When he does that, he's tough to defend."
AP
