MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Kevin Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the third quarter as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Charlotte Hornets 90-82 Thursday night.

The Wolves expanded a one-point halftime lead to 70-60 after three quarters by outscoring the Hornets 24-15 in the quarter. Garnett, Wally Szczerbiak and Terrell Brandon combined for 22 of the points.

Charlotte sliced the lead to 78-77 on Anthony Mason's hook shot with 5:06 to play, but Andrae Patterson put back William Avery's miss, then Radoslav Nesterovic went around Brad Miller for a dunk to restore a five-point lead with 3:55. The Hornets never got closer than four points thereafter.

Garnett added 11 rebounds for the Wolves, who outrebounded Charlotte 58-38. Four Minnesota players had at least eight rebounds.

Eddie Jones led the Hornets with 20 points, 14 in the first quarter. He left the game with back spasms in the third quarter.

Szczerbiak, saddled with three early fouls, came back to score 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Malik Sealy also had 14 for the Wolves.

Charlotte opened the game on a 16-4 run, but Minnesota rallied to lead 46-45 at halftime.

The Wolves were playing without injured regulars Joe Smith, Dean Garrett, Sam Mitchell and Tom Hammonds.