Garnett and Karl Malone were ejected within a minute of each other during the third quarter as the Timberwolves defeated the Utah Jazz 107-100 in a nationally televised game that included six technical fouls.

"That was the NBA at its best - fan-tastic," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

The Wolves unintentionally got a chance to prepare for the playoffs without Garnett - and they liked the results. Minnesota held a 59-58 lead when Garnett was ejected with 7:24 remaining in the third period and built that to 92-82 with 6:12 left in the game. Then the Wolves held off the Jazz after John Stockton's back-door layup cut their lead to 99-96 with 1:37 remaining.

"At the times we've played without K.G. in spurts, we've done well," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said.

Malone and Garnett were given technicals for getting rough under the basket with 7:52 remaining in the third period. Malone, who scored 14 points, was ejected for the second time this season after arguing with official Joey Crawford.

Garnett was called for a foul on Danny Manning on the Jazz's next possession, drawing a protest from Garnett. Reggie Slater tried to hold Garnett away from official Jim Clark, but Garnett spun away toward Clark and was given his second technical of the game and the first ejection of his career with 7:24 left in the period.

Garnett, who finished with 17 points, cursed and made an obscene gesture toward the officials as he walked off the court.

Clark and Malone declined to talk to reporters.

Garnett said he wasn't sure why he was given the second technical, claiming the strongest thing he said was: "Damn, I can't believe you made that call."

"I didn't have a strong conversation with the referee," Garnett said. "My conversation was basically very short, and I said I can't believe they called that touch foul. Maybe the referee was sensitive at that point, but this is crazy.

"I have never been kicked out of a game in my career - maybe chased out of a park a couple of times. This is crazy."

Slater also said Garnett did not curse at the officials.

"He may have said what he said emphatically, but he didn't say it in a threatening manner," Slater said. "It wasn't a phantom tech - because he got it - but it was a mystery tech."

Garnett finished with 17 points. About the gesture he made toward the officials, he said he wasn't worried about any possible repercussions from the league.

"I'm the one who should be mad at them," he said.

QUICK STUFF: Felipe Lopez returned to the Wolves' starting lineup on Sunday in place of Anthony Peeler, who started Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Peeler, who came off the injured list April 6, scored 14 points. ... The Jazz and the Wolves went into the game ranked 1-2 in assists per game. The Jazz, who averaged 25.8 assists, had 20 assists. Wolves, who averaged 25.4, had 27.

-- Associated Press

Personnel File

FIVE STRAIGHT: With a victory over the Grizzlies on Thursday the Wolves locked up its fifth straight playoff appearance.

"I told our players it's a heck of an accomplishment," said Minnesota coach Flip Saunders. "What we went through with the tragedy with Malik (Sealy) and the situation with Joe (Smith) that put ourselves in the situation.

Said Kevin Garnett: "A lot of people pretty much wrote us off in the preseason. It says a lot about the character of the players that we have and the leaders we have on the team."

CHEMISTRY JUST RIGHT: The Timberwolves don't have the raw talent or depth available to clubs such as Portland, San Antonio or the Lakers. But they feel they have a camaraderie second to none and credit that togetherness for much of their success this season.

"My first two years in the league, chemistry seemed to be one of those words that was thrown around and you almost got sick of hearing it all the time,'' Ellis said last week. "Yet, when you look around and see the different teams in the league and how their rosters shape up, it really does come down to chemistry. And our chemistry is really good right now.''

Said Saunders: "It's always been that way for us. That's kind of how we've built our team. From day one when we took over, we were a team that was willing to sacrifice talent sometimes for character and people that were willing to fill roles. And if they're not, we get rid of them. So it makes it pretty easy when people understand what the rules are.''

Saunders added: "Our main guy [Kevin Garnett] doesn't have an ego. So when your main guy doesn't have one, that kind of makes it easy for people to blend in.''

LOPEZ FILLS IN: Guard Felipe Lopez gave the Wolves a look at shooting guard they were so comfortable with, he has continued to start even though Anthony Peeler is back from a five-game stay on the injured list with a sprained ankle.

The combo seems to be working: Lopez has averaged 10.1 points on 52.5 percent shooting in starting the last seven games, while Peeler returned to active duty with 10 points in 25 minutes against Phoenix, then had 17 points against the Lakers Sunday, 14 in the second half.

"I wanted to have a shot and have an opportunity to come and play in Minnesota,'' Lopez said. "And from what I heard from the guys who had played here, they know that it's a good situation. I felt pretty good coming here, and everything has been playing out pretty well. Hopefully I'll get the chance to decide to stay here for next year.''

JACOBSON ON IL: To make room for Peeler on the 12-man roster, guard Sam Jacobson was put on the injured list because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Noteworthy

PASSES FOR OWNER AND MCHALE: Wolves owner Glen Taylor and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale had permission from the NBA to attend the game Sunday, in honor of the halftime ceremony at Target Center for former Minneapolis Lakers Hall of Famer George Mikan. Taylor and McHale have been suspended since December for their roles in the Joe Smith salary-cap circumvention case.

PATIENCE TESTED: Garnett struggled against L.A., finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and seven turnovers while shooting 4 of 14.

"Everything was happening so fast, and I didn't take the time to slow down,'' Garnett said. "A couple of times, they were bringing a couple of guys, and I didn't take the time to see what was going down. I never gathered myself and took my time.''

TRIBUTE TO SEALY: The Malik Sealy Gym of Dreams was dedicated Saturday in downtown Minneapolis in honor of the late Wolves shooting guard.

"I think he would be proud, because this is a place where kids can come and dream,'' Wolves forward Sam Mitchell said during the ceremony. "We all once dreamed of being NBA players. ... One day, maybe an NBA player or two will come off this court, too.''

The court at the facility features Sealy's retired No. 2 in a blue circle and photos of him hang on the walls.

ATTENDANCE BUMP: Wolves marketing boss Chris Wright estimates that the team's attendance will be up, on average, about 700 per game this season. Tickets for the first-round playoff series will be raised $5, with the cheaper seats in the second deck showing no increase.

Saunders gave credit to the team's fans for helping boost this season's home record (29-11) to the best in franchise history.

"They have really been into the games, and they've almost put us into situations where they've willed us to win,'' the coach said of the fans. "I think that's what you need at your home court.''

QUICK STUFF: The loss to Los Angeles snapped Minnesota's 10-game home winning streak, second longest in franchise history.

QUOTEWORTHY: "Every game we play right now is kind of a playoff mode. As I told our players, it's not really about winning, it's about playing well and putting yourselves in position to win, so when the playoffs start we're going to be playoff-tested.'' -- Saunders on the Wolves' approach down the stretch.

WOLVES' DESTINY: This might belong in the Things Happen For a Reason File: For all the anguish and worry the Timberwolves went through with the Joe Smith case early in this NBA season, there was at least one positive waiting at the end.

His name is Reggie Slater.

The fact is, Slater would not be with the Wolves today if somehow, some way, the team had been able to retain Smith as its backup big man along the front line. While NBA veteran LaPhonso Ellis most directly has filled Smith's role this season -- getting major minutes in the fourth quarter and contributing about 10 points and eight rebounds on a nightly basis -- Slater was the player whose roster spot hinged on Smith's return.

Ellis, after all, was signed to a guaranteed contract. Slater, on the other hand, was trying to stick at the end of training camp. Only when the NBA declared that Smith was not eligible to play for Minnesota this season did Slater find himself with a job and, eventually, a role in the Wolves' rotation.

"Reggie Slater was five minutes away from being released,'' Wolves coach Flip Saunders said. "We basically said, 'Reggie, the thing's coming down on Joe, and if Joe's able to come here and play, we're probably going to have to release you.' His bags were packed, he was waiting at the Marriott Hotel for us to call him. We had an exhibition game that night, and we called him up and told him to come on over. That's kind of a Cinderella story.''

One without any glass slippers, that is. There is nothing dainty about Slater's game or his contributions to the Wolves this season. In starting 14 of the last 20 games through last weekend, the burly journeyman averaged 5.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 17.2 minutes while helping the team to a 9-5 mark. Slater matched a season high with 14 points Friday against Phoenix, 10 in the fourth quarter.

Here's the shocker: Slater, all 6-foot-5 (and maybe an extra half-inch) of him, has done his dirty work at center. That makes him the shortest center in the NBA. Forget what the programs and the rosters say; Slater is 6-7 the way Charles Barkley was 6-7.

Yet, like Barkley, Slater uses his power and his width to clear space, open lanes and create distance between himself and opponents in the paint.

"A guy, 6-5, 280, probably shouldn't be able to do the things he does sometimes against the bigger people,'' Saunders said. "It shows you that playing aggressive and playing hard, you can be effective.''

Wolves assistant coach Don Zierden coached Slater with the La Crosse Bobcats in the CBA and had a hunch that the 30-year-old could have success in Minnesota.

"He can really bang bodies,'' Zierden said. "He's smaller, but he really works hard in there. I'm a little bit surprised at how consistent it's been, as far as him going against bigger guys every night. In the CBA he was going against 6-7, 6-8 guys. But he's been doing it against bigger guys in the NBA.''

All because a job opened up in what, at the time, represented a major setback for the Wolves organization.

"I try to put those days behind me, but you don't know how true that was,'' Slater said. "I was ready to get on the plane. Things happen for a reason in life, and I believe in that. I'm just trying to make the best of the opportunity that's come to me.''