SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Kevin Garnett scored 24 points Wednesday night as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the Utah Jazz, 98-87, for their fifth straight victory.
Garnett added eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks as the Timberwolves defeated the Jazz for the third straight time. Utah had a season-high, four-game winning streak snapped.
Minnesota's Joe Smith scored 15 points before being ejected in the final minute for a flagrant foul on Utah rookie Andrei Kirilenko.
Terrell Brandon chipped in 14 and nine assists for the Wolves, who have won by double digits in every game during their streak.
Minnesota held a 91-71 edge after Gary Trent made a 19-footer with 4:42 remaining, but Utah went on a 15-2 run capped by Scott Padgett's baseline jumper with 1:16 left.
Wally Szczerbiak, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, ended the surge with a layup with 61 seconds to go and Minnesota held on.
Karl malone scored 20 points and DeShawn Stevenson added a career-high 16 for the Jazz, who had not won consecutive games this season before their winning streak.
Utah led at halftime, 52-51, but Brandon and Rasho Nesterovic scored the first eight points of the third quarter and Minnesota led the rest of the way. The Timberwolves outscored the Jazz, 31-13, in the third period.
