Wolves snap 11-game skid; beat Kings

Randy Foye scored 24 points and Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 18 rebounds to rally the Minnesota Timberwolves to 95-89 victory Wednesday night over the Sacramento Kings.

The Timberwolves snapped an 11-game road losing streak in coming back from a seven-point deficit to beat the Kings, who have lost seven of eight.

Craig Smith broke a tie when he took Garnett's pass in traffic and scored inside. Fouled by Corliss Williamson on the play, Smith converted the free throw for a 90-87 lead with 1:18 remaining. He later made two free throws for a 94-89 lead with 8.7 seconds left to seal the victory, the first road win for Minnesota since Jan. 27 against the Clippers.

With a month left in the season, both Sacramento and the Timberwolves are trying to remain in the Western Conference playoff chase. Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak and stayed within 2 1/2 games of the eighth and final playoff berth. The loss put the Kings three games out of the eighth slot.

Mike Bibby had 23 points and seven assists, while Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 19 points for the Kings. Minus injured starting post players Brad Miller and Kenny Thomas, Williamson enjoyed a rare start and responded with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings.

Ron Artest, who had 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists, had little time to rest after the game. He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning in a nearby Placer County courtroom. Artest faces four misdemeanor charges after he was arrested earlier this month on a domestic dispute at his home in Loomis, 25 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The Kings travel to Phoenix for a Thursday game against the Suns. Artest is expected to take a commercial flight to Phoenix following his court appearance and be available for the game.

Ricky Davis had 14 points and seven assists, and Mike James added 12 points for the Timberwolves, who are 10-25 on the road this season.

After spending most of the third quarter on the bench, Foye helped rally the Timberwolves from a seven-point deficit. A clever rookie with a good perimeter shot, Foye scored 14 points in the fourth. He shot 9-of-12 and made all six free throws. Bibby and Abdur-Rahim had 11 points in the first half, helping the Kings to a 48-43 lead.

Notes:@ The Timberwolves have an 9-18 record since Randy Wittman took over as coach Jan. 23 for Dwane Casey. ... Kings leading scorer Kevin Martin had three first-half points and finished with nine. ... Garnett received a technical on the first play of the third quarter when he objected to a no-call when he made a basket from close range. ... The Kings play the Suns away and home (Sunday) in their next two games.