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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Two years after leaving the NBA for what many thought was a premature retirement, Kevin Johnson made his return Sunday.
Johnson played the entire fourth quarter as the Phoenix Suns,
getting 23 points from Rodney Rogers and 22 from Penny Hardaway,
rallied past Minnesota 87-86.
"I felt like it was two years ago," Johnson said. "Just
lace 'em up and play basketball."
|  | | Suns guard Kevin Johnson looks to pass around Minnesota's Bobby Jackson. |
Johnson, 34, seemed to be taking everything in during the game,
sharing laughs with his teammates, the referees and long-time
opponent Terrell Brandon.
"He's one of the best point guards of all-time," Brandon said.
"He's got fresh legs at a time when the rest of us are banged up
and tired."
Johnson, playing for the first time since April 29, 1998, scored
four points with two assists, leaving the playmaking duties mainly
to Hardaway.
"I tried to be reserved, but it was exciting for me," Johnson
added. "You want to come back and be a part of the camaraderie."
Rogers hit two foul shots with 16.6 seconds left for the final
margin as Phoenix won for the ninth time in 11 games. Hardaway also
had nine assists and seven rebounds.
It was the third straight victory for the Suns, who coaxed
Johnson out of retirement last week after Jason Kidd broke his
ankle. Specifically, it was vice president Cotton Fitzsimmons who
made the call to his retired point guard when Kidd went down.
"I was excited," said Johnson recalling the phone call. "It
was kind of like getting the call of duty, to step up."
Johnson's comeback had been delayed, however, when he hurt his
groin at practice Wednesday. But, despite the injury and the lack
of playing time, he felt and looked comfortable Sunday.
"This go-around I'm going to enjoy it more than I did the last
11 years," Johnson said.
Malik Sealy had 19 points, Wally Szczerbiak added 18 and Kevin
Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who
blew a double-digit lead for the seventh time.
"The game was crucial because it was a Western Conference game
we needed to win," Brandon said.
Entering Sunday's games, Phoenix was tied with San Antonio for
fourth place in the Western Conference and homecourt advantage in
the first round of the playoffs. Minnesota, in sixth place, fell to
four games behind the Suns.
After trailing 68-57, Phoenix opened the fourth with a 19-8 run
to tie it at 76-76 with 5:16 left. Rogers hit two foul shots a
minute later to give the Suns their first lead, 80-78, since they
scored the first basket of the game.
After Smith scored to tie it again, Rogers hit a 3-pointer to
give Phoenix an 83-80 lead with 2:55 left. But, Smith followed with
a basket and two foul shots to make it 84-83.
Hardaway hit a jumper to make it 85-84 and Sealy made two foul
shots with 56.7 seconds left to give Minnesota an 86-85 advantage.
Rogers was fouled in the low post with 16.6 seconds left and his
two free throws made the difference. Smith's last-second jumper in
the lane was too strong and Phoenix grabbed the rebound.
"If he's not the sixth man of the year, he'll be robbed,"
Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said of Rogers.
Szczerbiak scored 12 points in the first quarter and Sealy had
11 as Minnesota got out to a 30-17 lead. Phoenix cut into the
deficit in the second period and trailed 46-37 at halftime.
Phoenix is 3-1 against Minnesota and split four games with San
Antonio.
Game notes
Entering Sunday, only six games separated the fourth and
eighth-best records in the West. ... Johnson had 18 points in his
last game when the Suns were eliminated by San Antonio in the 1998
playoffs. ... Phoenix's season-opening starting lineup was together
just 14 games. ... Minnesota shot 38.8 percent and had 21
turnovers. ... Sealy and Szczerbiak combined to shoot 10-of-13 in
the first quarter, but they made five of 12 shots the rest of the
game.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 113
New Jersey 92
Phoenix 87
Minnesota 86
Sacramento 117
Philadelphia 95
Indiana 104
Toronto 83
LA Lakers 106
New York 82
Miami 88
San Antonio 84
Chicago 83
Cleveland 74
Milwaukee 117
Golden State 113
Portland 95
Seattle 82
Dallas 100
Vancouver 86
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kevin Johnson says winning is the best part of being back in the NBA.
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