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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ It was Dec. 30, 1997, that the Minnesota Timberwolves won the game that marked the turnaround of their franchise _ beating Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls for the first time.

So much has changed in two years, and the Bulls can only hope they'll be seeing a turnaround soon.

With Jordan retired, Scottie Pippen in Portland and only one player from their 1998 championship team _ center Dickey Simpkins _ on the Bulls' active roster, Chicago lost Thursday for the 10th straight game, 94-76 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who won for the sixth time in seven games.

The Bulls fell to 2-25 overall, worst record in the NBA, and remained winless on the road and against the NBA's Western Conference.

``We just have to look for better things in the next century,'' Chicago coach Tim Floyd said.

The Bulls, who have beaten only Boston and New Jersey this season, fell behind 8-0 and never caught up as Minnesota (13-14) won for the sixth time in seven games.

Minnesota opens the new year with back-to-back home games against Western Conference powers San Antonio and Portland.

``Those are games that we have to win,'' Kevin Garnett said. ``Those are probably the two best teams in the West, and we have to make a statement.''

Garnett had planned to make a statement to the sellout crowd following the game, thanking them for their support for the team's 10 seasons. But he said, ``I was nervous and I was tired and I didn't know how to put it.''

Instead, he offered his thanks with a 22-point, 11-rebound performance that included 9-of-11 field-goal shooting and excellent defense on Chicago's leading scorer, Elton Brand. Brand, averaging nearly 17 points, scored nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

``I think playing four games in five nights had a little to do with it, but I also think they played great defense,'' Brand said. ``That had a lot to do with my performance.''

Minnesota led 32-19 after the first quarter, in which Sam Mitchell scored 10 of his 12 points. The Wolves had six players in double figures, including all five starters.

``You just have to come out and put teams like this away early,'' Mitchell said. ``You try to build on big leads, but not worry about who you are playing.''

The Wolves' recent surge has followed an eight-game losing streak that included double-digit losses to Golden State and Dallas.

``You go through a season, and things are going to go bad,'' Garnett said. ``You need to stick together as a team. Winning six out of seven is great, but we are not satisfied.''

Notes: The Bulls are 0-15 on the road and 0-11 against the Western Conference. ... Minnesota had only 10 active players on its roster after Wally Szczerbiak and Bobby Jackson were placed on the injured list Thursday. ... The Wolves play eight of their next nine games against teams with .500 or better records. ... The Bulls' highest point total was 97 in a 16-point loss at Atlanta on Nov. 6. ... The sellout was Minnesota's fourth this season. ... The Wolves won for only the third time this season when scoring fewer than 100 points.