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Seattle looks to stay hot against slumping Minnesota

Dec 14, 2007 - 3:37 PM Seattle (6-17) at Minnesota (3-17) 8:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Seattle SuperSonics will try to build off their recent success when they visit the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.

On its third stop on its five-game road trip, Seattle got a lot of help from rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green in Wednesday's 117-110 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

"Just being here is special," said Green of his return to MSG. "Last time I was here, I won the Big East championship. Just coming back and playing here again is just a blessing. So I made the best of it and I had a good game."

The 19-year-old Durant is averaging 23.0 points during this road swing, while Green's 17-point effort in the win was the first time he reached double digits.

Seattle's young duo aren't the only ones turning heads.

Minnesota forward Al Jefferson is trying to make fans forget about Kevin Garnett, who was traded to Boston exchange for the 6-10 big man and several others this summer.

Jefferson has been impressive in the paint, averaging 19.9 points and 11.1 rebounds in hopes of earning his first All-Star Game appearance.

Jefferson registered his 16th double-double of the season and Sebastian Telfair handed out 11 assists but it wasn't enough as Minnesota dropped its second straight game to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, 98-94.