HoopsVibe

(Sports Network) - Troy Hudson scored 29 points starting in place of an injured Sam Cassell, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to an 81-68 win over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday in a matchup of division-leaders at the Target Center.

Kevin Garnett scored 18 points and pulled down nine boards, while Wally Szczerbiak posted 14 points off the bench for the Timberwolves. Michael Olowokandi hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds, as Minnesota won for the seventh time in eight games and ended the Nets' franchise-best 14-game winning streak.

The Nets trailed by just one point at 55-54 heading into the fourth quarter, but Hudson and Fred Hoiberg took over from there for Minnesota. Hoiberg scored the first five points of the frame for the Timberwolves, as Minnesota held a 60-58 edge.

Then Troy Hudson caught fire, scoring 12 in the midst of a 15-0 run that all but put the game away at 75-58.

Minnesota improved to 35-6 when leading after three quarters this year.

Garnett has scored in double digits in all 58 of Minnesota's games this season. He has played 40 or more minutes in 14 of the Timberwolves' last 23 contests.

The Timberwolves are off until Friday when they host the Golden State Warriors. Minnesota is 0-2 against the Warriors this season.