Stoic Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Garnett went down the bench, acknowledging teammates and coaches one by one Wednesday during the final seconds of his team's victory over Memphis.

But for teammates Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, Garnett had something more meaningful: a three-man hug.

During the past seven seasons, Garnett has been able to get to the playoffs, but never past the first round. The big knock was "The Big Ticket" didn't have a big enough supporting cast. No longer.

With the offseason additions of Sprewell and Cassell, the three combined to become the hottest-scoring trio in the NBA and earn Minnesota the No. 1 seed in the West Conference, clinched Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn. Together, they have given Garnett and Timberwolves fans hope they can not only get past a first-round matchup beginning Sunday night against the Nuggets, but make it to the NBA Finals.

"They've meant the world," Garnett said about Cassell and Sprewell.

Once "The Big Three" got comfortable with one another's games in mid-December, the Wolves ran to an 11-2 record during the month and dominated the remainder of the season en route to a Western Conference-best 58-24 record.

That trio also jelled off the court. They are regularly seen together sitting side by side on charter flights or hanging out in the Twin Cities' night scene.

"Once me and Spree figured out how to be successful in the system, the sky was the limit for this ballclub," Cassell said.

Said Garnett: "They brought a sense of no-nonsense here. A great sense of professionalism. They came in beautifully and met all the expectations."