SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Wally Szczerbiak scored 18 points and Troy Hudson had 17 to help Minnesota overcome Kevin Garnett’s shooting problems in the Timberwolves’ 85-77 victory over the slumping Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Garnett, 3-for-14 from the field, had a season-low 11 points and also finished with 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have won two straight and six of eight overall to take over first place in the Northwest Division.

Minnesota won for the fifth straight time at Arco Arena, dating to March 5, 2003.

Michael Olowokandi added 13 points and Trenton Hassell had 10 for Minnesota, which maintained a double-digit lead through much of the second half.

The Kings, who lost their third straight, went through nearly a 9-minute stretch late in the second quarter and carrying over to the third when they scored just two points. They shot 42 percent and were 12-of-20 from the free throw line.

Mike Bibby had 14 points for the Kings, Kenny Thomas added 11, and Corliss Williamson and Peja Stojakovic had 10 each.

Despite committing 14 turnovers and getting just four points from Garnett, the Timberwolves led 48-36 at the half.

Notes: Getting 17 minutes as a reserve was a good 32nd birthday present of sorts for Williamson, who has not played in nine of 17 games this season. … Szczerbiak was 7-of-8 from the field in the opening half and scored 14 points. … The two missed a combined 10 3-pointers before Hudson made one late in the third quarter.

AP-ES-12-04-05 2339EST