http://www.startribune.com/511/story/1002826.html The Timberwolves' goals were modest: Hold down Carmelo Anthony, keep Marcus Camby off the boards, try to limit the Denver Nuggets' layups. Their performance also was pretty modest, a 99-94 victory on Wednesday at Target Center in which the Wolves did just enough, long enough. They didn't hit the All-Star break like lions, but they went on the lam for the next five days by tucking into their pockets a victory over a division rival, in a crowded playoff picture, that essentially counts double. "We had players that didn't have the best of games, but they hung in there. Hung in there," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "If we can get to doing that, staying in games even though it's not going your way, the tide is going to turn." After leading only four times, by a single point, for a total of 121 seconds through the game's first 45 minutes, the Wolves (25-27) only truly got busy at the end. They trailed 90-87 until center Mark Blount, on his way to 24 points, scored six in a row for a 93-92 lead with 1:28 left. On one of Blount's buckets, he salvaged a possession with a 20-footer that ripped through as the shot clock was buzzing. Then it was rookie Randy Foye's turn. The newly anointed starting point guard looked ready in the first quarter to reclaim a spot on the bench -- and, in fact, he did after two shaky turnovers barely six minutes in. Later, though, Foye was his irrepressible self. He drove in for a running hook that also beat the 24-second clock and made it 95-92 with 23.3 seconds left. Then he sank two free throws at 14.7 seconds to keep the Wolves up three, 97-94. In the getaway game for both clubs -- the NBA's long weekend in Las Vegas starts Friday -- there were plenty of shaggy performances to go around: Foye got yanked early; Blount got pulled for defensive lapses soon after halftime; Kevin Garnett didn't score a basket until the game's 18th minute; Ricky Davis made only three of his 12 shots; and Minnesota trailed by 11 points halfway through the first quarter. Either of these teams, at their best, would have run off with this game. This time, the Wolves persevered, the Nuggets (26-25) -- playing their fourth game in a row (and eight of nine) without All-Star guard Allen Iverson -- punched out. "When I look at this team," Foye said, "I see that we're growing because earlier in the season, if that [slow start] would have happened, the team would have probably blown us out. But when the shots aren't falling, guys are doing other little things to help us win." That 12-4 run over the final 2:30 boosted the Wolves to 16-9 at home, 5-7 since Wittman took over and 5-5 against Northwest Division rivals. Garnett wound up with 19 points and 17 rebounds, matching his season high with seven on the offensive glass. The Wolves matched their season high with 18 offensive boards, fueling their 20-4 edge in second-chance scoring. As for those initial modest goals, they kept Anthony (28 points) three below his season average, limited Camby (12.1 rpg) to a only three and, over the last three quarters, outscored the Nuggets inside 40-22. Nene, Denver's center, shredded Minnesota inside until more defensive attention and some foul trouble slowed him. "You can beat yourselves in a lot of ways," Denver coach George Karl said. "We gave a great effort [in that] in turnovers and rebounding." The Nuggets gave away the ball seven times in the fourth quarter, while the Wolves grabbed six offensive rebounds. That, Anthony said, was "the determining factor."Everybody was attacking the basket, and that was the reason why we lost," the Nuggets' scoring star said. That, and the Wolves' determination to play hard at the end of their last shift before vacation. --

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