NBA Notebook | Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor says Kevin Garnett "tanked it"

MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Garnett has heard plenty of criticism in his 13 years in the NBA.

He doesn't hit the big shot in the fourth quarter. He only got the Minnesota Timberwolves out of the first round of the playoffs one time. His contract limited the team's ability to surround him with talent.

Through it all, no one ever questioned his intensity, effort or determination.

Until now, and from an unlikely source.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, a staunch supporter and friend of Garnett's during their 12 seasons together in Minnesota, leveled some rare criticism at his former star on Tuesday, suggesting Garnett "tanked it" when he missed the last five games last year.

Taylor's remarks came after practice, as the Wolves' strong play down the stretch was being discussed. They have won four of their last six games and say they want to win as many as possible for momentum into the offseason.

Taylor took exception to a local newspaper columnist who suggested it was time for the Wolves, who are 16-50, to start losing to improve their chances in the draft lottery.

Garnett missed the last five games of last season with a leg injury and watched his team lose its final seven games, improving its draft status along the way, before being traded to Boston in July.

Taylor said the columnist "said a little bit last year that we sort of like tanked it. I don't think that. I don't like that so much. I don't like that.

"It was more like KG tanked it. I think the other guys still wanted to play. But it sure changed the team and didn't make us [as good]."

The Celtics were in Houston for a game against the Rockets, and Garnett did not speak with reporters before the game. His agent, Andy Miller, said Taylor's remarks were "ridiculous."

"KG has never been questioned, nor would he ever be questioned by anyone, about his effort or desire to win and accomplish team success," Miller said. "During his tenure in Minnesota, nothing was more important to him than bringing a championship to Minnesota."

Notes

• Allen Iverson will play his first game in Philadelphia since he was traded in December 2006 and is expected to get a huge ovation, even though he'll be wearing a Denver Nuggets uniform and trying like mad to stick it to the Sixers instead of vowing to win them a title.

• Rookie forward Nick Fazekas signed a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers for the rest of the season.

• Miami forward Udonis Haslem is considering having surgery on his sprained left ankle after an MRI exam revealed a bone spur that is causing discomfort.

• The Los Angeles Lakers put a timetable on the return of Andrew Bynum: probably the first round of the playoffs. Bynum has been out since Jan. 13, when he dislocated his left kneecap and bruised a bone.

• Toronto's Chris Bosh plans to be back on the court when the Raptors host the Miami Heat.