The Timberwolves have won five straight over Portland and nine of the last 12 in the series. Minnesota shot 46 percent from the floor and held its own on the glass, holding a slight 46-45 advantage. The Timberwolves had a remarkable 25 assists on 37 made field goals.
     "It was almost like we were playing against ourselves," Timberwolve Coach Dwane Casey said.
     Casey's first head coaching victory came at the expense of an old friend. Kevin Garnett had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Richie Frahm hit his first five 3-pointers on Wednesday night to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 90-86 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and new coach Nate McMillan, who either coached with or played for Casey in Seattle for the past 11 years.
     "It was nice to get coach Casey his first win," Szczerbiak said. "Hopefully we can bring him many more. I thought we were a little tight, first-game jitters. It was good to get it our of our system. It's good to be hyped up, but we were a little bit too hyped up."
     Casey went to Frahm in the second quarter looking for a spark, and the third-year player delivered. He hit all four of his 3-point attempts to help the Wolves dig out of an 11-point hole.