RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DALLAS (AP) _ The Minnesota Timberwolves hadn't won in three weeks, and they were beginning to forget how it felt to celebrate a victory. They remembered on Saturday night.

Kevin Garnett had 27 points and 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 108-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

``It feels good to end the streak,'' said Garnett, who added five assists, two steals and two blocks. ``Now hopefully we can put together a winning streak. In games we've been losing, we haven't been that aggressive. Tonight we were. Of course, when you win, everything is right.''

Terrell Brandon added 20 points and Wally Szczerbiak had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who last won on Nov. 30 against Denver.

Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said his team stepped up its effort on the defensive end, playing like it did when Minnesota opened the season at 5-2.

``We played the way we played early in the year,'' Saunders said. ``We were a lot more aggressive defensively.''

The Timberwolves were happy to beat anybody, even the struggling Mavericks.

``It's been tough with all the criticism and finger-pointing that comes with losing,'' Minnesota forward Sam Mitchell said. ``Hopefully we have our tough stretch of the season out of the way.''

Michael Finley had 26 points and Hubert Davis scored 25 for the Mavericks, who have lost six of their last seven games. Cedric Ceballos had 14 points for Dallas before fouling out with 1:22 remaining.

Mavericks coach Don Nelson bemoaned another poor defensive effort by his team after the Timberwolves went 43-of-80 from the field (53.8 percent).

``This game was lost in the first half,'' Nelson said. ``Our defensive intensity was nonexistent. This is the worst I've seen any of my teams play in a long time on the defensive end. And I'm very tired of it.''

The Mavericks rallied from a 10-point third-quarter deficit to tie the score at 91 on Davis' 20-footer with 5:15 to play.

But Mitchell's jumper with 2:05 left put the Timberwolves in front for good, 101-99.

Brandon converted a free throw with 1:06 left when Ceballos picked up a technical foul from the bench, and Malik Sealy added a basket with 28.5 seconds remaining to give Minnesota a 104-99 advantage.

Garnett's two foul shots with 12.2 seconds left extended the Timberwolves' lead to 106-99. Damon Jones' 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds left and Gary Trent's layup with 3.5 seconds remaining pulled Dallas within 107-104.

But Garnett made one of two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining to seal the victory.<

Notes: The Mavericks placed guard Robert Pack on the injured list (right ankle tendon sprain) and activated forward Randell Jackson. Pack is expected to miss two weeks. ... Minnesota forward Joe Smith missed his fourth straight game with the flu. ... Dallas held a 42-41 rebounding edge, the first time the Mavericks have outrebounded an opponent this season. ... Szczerbiak had his first career double-double. ... The Mavericks slipped to 5-6 at home, the first time they've been under .500 at Reunion Arena this season.