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Smith, McCants lead Wolves past Pacers

Oct 20, 2007 - 3:46 AM By Gary Knight PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Timberwolves got a team-high 20 points from Craig Smith and a couple of big defensive plays from Smith Rashad McCants late in the game to pull out a 113-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers in double overtime.

Smith hit two free throws with 1:25 left in the second overtime to give Minnesota the lead for good, 111-110. He then blocked a driving lay-up attempt by Indiana's Andre Owens with 14 seconds left.

Greg Buckner then made one of two free throws to give the Timberwolves a two-point cushion.

On Indiana's ensuing possesion, McCants reached in and poked the ball away from Shawne Williams at the top of the key. The ball was picked up by Minnesota's Ricky Davis, who was fouled with 8.4 seconds left.

Davis only made one of his free throws and Indiana's Travis Diener missed a 3-pointer from the right corner at the horn.

Davis finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, and McCants and Al Jefferson added 18 each for the Timberwolves. Jefferson also grabbed 12 boards.

Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels lead six Indiana players in double-figures with 18 a piece. Jeff Foster had a game high 20 rebounds to go along with his 11 points.

The Timberwolves lead 29-14 after the first quarter and 58-37 at the half. They pushed the lead to, 69-48, on a pair of free throws by McCants with 8:28 left in the third quarter.

Indiana proceeded to outscore Minnesota 38-15 over the next 16:38 and managed to tie the score, 84-84, on a Williams bucket with 3:51 left in regulation. After an Al Jefferson three-point play with 25 seconds left, Diener came up short on a 3-pointer for the win.

Indiana again had a chance to steal a win at the end of the first overtime, but Williams could only convert 1 of 2 free throws to give the Pacers a 104-102 lead with 14 seconds. Ricky Davis couldn't convert a driving baseline shot, but Timberwolves rookie Chris Richard tipped in the miss at the buzzer to send it to a second OT.

The Pacers were playing without power forward Jermaine O'Neal, who sat out to rest the knee he had surgery on this offseason.