For one quarter, two quarters, even into the third Friday night, the fact that Kevin Garnett was having one of the quietest offensive games of his career seemed like no big deal.

Garnett was doing enough other things -- vacuuming rebounds, covering his man, helping with others, passing out of double-teams to open teammates -- that his tiny point total in the Wolves' game against Phoenix at America West Arena seemed likely to enhance his status as a multidimensional star capable of affecting games without scoring much.

That, at least, was the interpretation while the Wolves were winning.

Then, well into the fourth quarter, things changed. The Wolves needed Garnett on offense, and he wasn't there. He missed a 19-footer with less than six minutes left and Phoenix crawling up the Wolves' backs, 70-68. He had a shot blocked by the Suns' Bo Outlaw the next time downcourt. With the Wolves down 75-71, Garnett missed again from the top of the key. Barely a minute remained when he missed from three-point range, and just before the final horn, Outlaw swatted another of Garnett's three-point shots.