NBA PLAYOFFS Timberwolves bounce Nuggets with easy win

Minnesota advances to play Sacramento in the second round.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves wrapped up another playoff series -- and they're finally moving on instead of heading home.
Garnett had 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 102-91 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, ending an NBA record streak of seven straight first-round losses.
Minnesota, which took the best-of-seven series 4-1, will play Sacramento in the Western Conference semifinals starting next week.
Marcus Camby and Andre Miller each scored 21 points for the Nuggets, who were rooted on by their star rookie, Carmelo Anthony.
His sprained left knee wasn't strong enough to play on, and even though the 19-year-old's postseason debut was quiet, Denver wasn't the same with Jon Barry in the starting lineup.
Minnesota scorers
Sam Cassell had 26 points and Latrell Sprewell scored 15 of his 19 in the first half for the Timberwolves, who got 72 percent of their scoring in this game from their leading trio.
The eighth-seeded Nuggets showed some spunk in their first playoff series since 1995. But Garnett, the only one to play on all eight of the Timberwolves' playoff teams, kept Denver from getting too close.
He scored Minnesota's first six points of the fourth quarter -- a dunk, two free throws and a turnaround -- to bump the lead to 80-68 with 10 minutes left. Denver came within nine twice after that, but no closer.
Taken out with 34 seconds to go, Garnett slowly raised his arms to acknowledge the roaring crowd before heading to the bench.