• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Moore leads Nets past Timberwolves

Dec 31, 2006 - 6:46 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Mikki Moore and Richard Jefferson were catalysts for the New Jersey Nets.

Moore scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting and Jefferson added 23 to lead the Nets to a 100-92 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

New Jersey held a 72-66 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter and opened with a 16-8 run, which was capped by Vince Carter's fallaway 3-point bank shot with 4:38 remaining, to put Minnesota away.

The Timberwolves cut the lead to seven with 2:10 to play in the game on Bracey Wright's jumper, but Jefferson answered with a 3-pointer and Moore hit an 18-foot turnaround jumper and was fouled. Moore converted the free throw to balloon New Jersey's lead to 13 with 1:21 left in the session.

"Mikki was pretty effective tonight," Minnesota's Kevin Garnett said. "He had a good night and he had a stroke going."

Moore, who has played for seven different teams in nine seasons, was moved into the starting lineup after center Nenad Krstic suffered a season-ending knee injury on December 22. He had scored just 13 points in his first three starts before providing the spark for New Jersey.

"It feels great," Moore said. "I always play hard when I play against K.G. We're both from South Carolina and I respect him, so I try to bring my best game."

Moore also tied a season high with eight rebounds and collected two steals as the crowd at Continental Airlines Arena began chanting his name late in the fourth quarter.

"With all the success we've had since I've been here, I can only remember three or four times that the crowd has chanted someone's name," Jefferson said. "That's huge."

Jason Kidd scored 19 points and Carter added 14 for the Nets, who shot 53 percent (40-of-76) from the field.

Ricky Davis and rookie Randy Foye each scored 18 points for the Timberwolves, who shot 49 percent (34-of-69) from the floor. Garnett added 17 points and had 11 rebounds.

"Playing four games in five nights wore on us and we were playing catch-up all night," Timberwolves coach Dwayne Casey said. "We didn't have the focus or energy you need. Mikki Moore came in and pounded us. It showed us that we didn't have the mental toughness we needed to win the game."