Kevin Garnett

LANDOVER -- Maybe the Washington Bullets have simply benefited from a break in the schedule that served up the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves in succession. Or, just maybe, the Bullets are becoming a good team.Whatever the reason, the Bullets won their third straight game last night and got above the .500 mark as they defeated the Timberwolves, 105-98, before 12,224 at USAir Arena.The Bullets started strongly, leading by as many as 23 points in the first half, and had just enough to hold off a rally that got the Timberwolves as close as five points in the final two minutes.

Opponent: Minnesota TimberwolvesPlace: USAir ArenaTime: 7: 30Radio: WWRC (980 AM)Outlook: This game will match teams led by talented forward tandems. Former Bullets F Tom Gugliotta (21.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and second-year F Kevin Garnett (15.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg) lead the Timberwolves. The Bullets have won two straight, including Saturday's win over Milwaukee. Washington is led by F Juwan Howard (23 points, eight rebounds against the Bucks) and F Chris Webber (20 points, 15 rebounds). The Bullets won both meetings last season.

MINNEAPOLIS -- It's the day of the biggest game of the year for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are watching game tapes of the Chicago Bulls after concluding their morning shoot-around. Several players are bleary-eyed. The desire for most is a quick wrap-up and a speedy departure. And then there's the excitable Kevin Garnett, who can't quite control his loud "ooohs" and "aaahhhs" as he watches Michael Jordan take flight."There will be some times when we're watching tape to scout a game, and he'll see a nice dunk and all of a sudden yell, 'Yo, rewind that, rewind that!

As if we don't have enough to worry about, now there is the question of Kevin Garnett's future.If you are the kind of lump who doesn't keep up with hot new controversies and haven't given any thought to Kevin's future, don't fret. There is still time. By next week, grave concerns for Kevin's future will be jumping out of your TV, news magazines and the papers.Actually, the grave concerns have already started. Some sportswriters can't resist being the first on their block to have wrinkled brows.