Timberwolves 94, 76ers 87
Nikola Pekovic had 27 points and a career high-tying 18 rebounds as host Minnesota outlasted Philadelphia.
Derrick Williams added 17 points and eight boards and Andrei Kirilenko scored 15 points to help the Timberwolves win for only the fourth time in 20 games.
Evan Turner scored 17 points and Jrue Holiday added 16 for the Sixers, who lost their third straight game overall and seventh in a row away from home.
Minnesota shot 59.1 percent in the first quarter to take a 35-25 lead and stretched the advantage to 56-41 at the break. Turner rallied the Sixers in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to trim a 17-point deficit to 76-67 entering the final 12 minutes.
Philadelphia chipped away at a 13-point deficit in the fourth and got within four points on a dunk by Spencer Hawes with 2:46 to play, but Ricky Rubio and Luke Ridnour hit two free throws each to stem the comeback.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Pekovic registered his 20th double-double of the season as Minnesota dominated the glass 51-39. ... Sixers F Damien Wilkins scored a season-high 13 points off the bench, nearly doubling his previous best of seven points. ... Rubio had 11 points and six assists, including the 500th of his career.