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Jackson helps Warriors outlast Timberwolves

Nov 12, 2008 - 7:53 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Stephen Jackson scored 30 points, including six in overtime, to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 113-110 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Jackson made 11-of-21 shots to lead all scorers and Andris Biedrins notched his 15th consecutive double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Warriors, who ended a two-game losing streak by overcoming a big deficit late in the fourth quarter.

"It feels good that I can lead my team to a victory," Jackson said. "The guys depend on me a lot and so do the coaches so I've got to be solid every night and be ready to play 48 minutes and I will continue to do that."

Golden State trailed, 106-97, with 4:30 remaining in the fourth quarter but went on a 9-0 run capped by Jackson's layup with 22 seconds left to tie the game.

Rashad McCants, who finished with 18 points, missed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc as time expired to send the game to overtime.

"We've got to close it out," said Minnesota forward Ryan Gomes, who scored 18 points off the bench. "We're up 10 (points) with 4:30 left, it is a lot of game left but I don't think we should've even got to overtime. They made plays, they made shots they needed, we played another five minutes and they got the best of us."

After Jackson's heroics evened the score, his pull-up jumper with 4:16 to go in overtime gave the Warriors a 108-106 advantage.

McCants made 1-of-2 from the line before Jackson added a free throw of his own on a defensive three-second technical foul. The Warriors' captain followed that with a 3-pointer to put Golden State on top, 112-107, with 2:16 remaining.

Minnesota struggled to find the hoop down the stretch, missing 12 of its final 13 shots as the Warriors switched to a zone defense.

"We got a little lucky there with the zone, 2-3 zone, that we went to in the second half and they had a difficult time with it," Golden State coach Don Nelson said. "A lot of guys played well tonight. We really needed a big game from (Jackson) tonight and we got it. I don't know how much longer I can play him 48 minutes, but I'm going to have to until he cries."

Biedrins fouled out with 1:46 to go in the extra session, but Randy Foye only made one free throw to narrow the deficit to four points. Foye hit a jumper with 1:07 left in OT to make it a two-point game.

The Timberwolves had one last attempt, and McCants tried to get the ball to Mike Miller, who fumbled it before a foul was called on Foye. C.J. Watson made a free throw with under a second remaining to account for the final score.

"We have to make plays down the stretch," Miller said. "We just have to find ways to close it out. The mood is tough, but no one feels sorry for us. We have to find a way to win games. No matter what the mood is, good or bad, we have to rally the troops, and get each others backs."

Al Jefferson had 25 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota dropped its sixth straight game. The Timberwolves have not earned a win since a season-opening 98-96 victory against the Sacramento Kings.

"There's a lot of good things in this but the most important one's a bad thing," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "I don't know what else to say. We've got to keep getting off the canvas and become tougher, both in mind and physically, down the stretch."