Two Sonics players draped like a blanket over Minnesota's Anthony Peeler at the corner of the baseline. With the shot clock winding down, a violation appeared imminent in the fourth quarter. Two seconds were on the clock when Peeler frantically threw a cross-court pass to Chauncey Billups near Seattle's bench.

As Gary Payton shadowed Billups, the Timberwolves' guard caught the pass and shot in one motion for an improbable swish. During the crowd's din, Payton just shook his head in disbelief at the alley-oop jumper.

For most of the night, Minnesota's offense was of the conventional variety with Kevin Garnett inside and Anthony Peeler outside. But the Timberwolves made enough make-sure-to-play-the-lottery shots to make the difference in a 111-106 victory over the Sonics at the Target Center.

"That is a big shot," said Sonics Coach Nate McMillan, of the play that gave Minnesota a 96-86 lead with about four minutes left. "Not only does it give them momentum, it drains you mentally. You've been battling the whole game to come back."

Minnesota (25-9) and Seattle (18-17) are two of the hottest teams in the NBA, both previously winning eight of nine. The Sonics have flourished recently without their biggest free-agent acquisition, Calvin Booth (sprained right ankle). Minnesota won its previous five games despite being without starters Terrell Brandon (left knee) and Joe Smith (bruised left calf).

"Tonight was a good test for us," McMillan said. "This team (Minnesota) has moved into that elite group of teams in our league."

The game wasn't decided until the final moments after Rashard Lewis (30 points and 10 rebounds) swished two three-pointers in the last minute.

"It was just one of those nights that had everything going their way," said Payton, who scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting. "We know we lost hustling. To lose a game (without) a good effort, it makes it feel a little bit worse. Guys should feel good about themselves."

The Sonics shot 51.3 percent (including 41.2 percent from three-point range), good enough to win on most nights. But Minnesota countered with 52.6 percent, 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Minnesota had 35 rebounds to Seattle's 34.

The Sonics had 16 turnovers, Minnesota 18.

But when it came down to tough shots ? especially with the shot clock winding down ? it wasn't close.

"They made a lot of tough shots," said Vin Baker, who made 10 of 15 shots for 23 points and had nine rebounds. "Right when we were trying to crack down on them, they made some great shots."

Brent Barry said: "When you're working hard on defense and making them take the shots that your coaching staff wanted them to take, there's really not much you can do about it."

The outcome snapped Seattle's three-game winning streak on the road.

Last night was the finale of a three-game trip, which started in Memphis before moving to Chicago. The Sonics finished the trip 2-1, ironically playing their best game last night.

With the Sonics playing most of their games this month on the road, last night's performance was positive despite the loss.

In Seattle's previous two games, its offensive execution came in spurts. Last night, Seattle's offense was sharp throughout the game, with Baker and Garnett (29 points on 11-for-16 shooting) going tit-for-tat while showing their repertoires.

But no Sonics reserve could come close to matching the outside brilliance of Peeler. The Sonics-killer no longer starts but he still seems to play his best against Seattle.

Peeler had been shooting well from three-point range recently. But last night, Peeler had his best performance of the season, making 7 of 9 from beyond the arc to finish with 26 points.

"I call him Seattle Slew," said Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders, whose team is 15-2 at home. "He's always done that (against Seattle)."

Peeler made four straight three-pointers in the first half to help Minnesota take a 54-48 lead. He swished a couple of jumpers with the shot clock winding down, talking to himself each time.

On a night of hot shooting, the tough shots turned out to be the difference. And none had the degree of difficulty of Billups' wild shot, which could only bring dark humor from the Sonics.

"That was a heck of a play Coach Saunders drew up," Barry said, sardonically. "It's really hard to get a cross-court, alley-oop pass for a 15-footer. That's some ingenious play-calling."