MINNEAPOLIS — Hall of Fame forward Kevin Garnett made a special appearance at Target Center in Minneapolis during the Minnesota Timberwolves' regular-season finale, returning to the arena for the first time in eight years as part of fan appreciation night. Garnett, the franchise's all-time leader in nearly every major statistical category, entered the building alongside Timberwolves co-owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez after player introductions.

The crowd roared as Garnett walked into the arena. He patted his heart with his hand before approaching the court, where he gave Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards a bear hug and then settled into a courtside seat for the game.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said Garnett's presence resonated with the current roster. "[Garnett] was excited to be back, no doubt about it. And it was a pretty neat moment when he walked out." Finch added: "I think it was good for our guys because they got a sense of just how important somebody with a legacy is and what that really means."

Garnett's extended absence from Target Center followed a falling out with former team owner Glen Taylor after the end of his playing career. He reached an agreement last year with the Timberwolves to serve as a team ambassador. The team will retire his No. 21 jersey at a later date.

The game carried no playoff implications for either team. The Timberwolves had already locked into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference before tipoff, and the New Orleans Pelicans had been eliminated from playoff contention. Minnesota sat nine of its top 10 players for the contest, finishing the regular season with a 49-33 record.