Timberwolves 110, Celtics 100: Nikola Pekovic scored 29 points to lead host Minnesota to a victory over shorthanded Boston.

The Celtics played their sixth straight game without Kevin Garnett and also missed Paul Pierce, who has a sore ankle. Without its two leaders, Boston shot 51.9 percent but offered little resistance on the other end of the floor.

Dante Cunningham scored 19 points and Andrei Kirilenko added 17 for the Timberwolves, who have won four of their last seven after a 3-12 stretch.

Minnesota never trailed after Pekovic had a personal 6-0 run midway through the first quarter and led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. The Celtics pulled within six entering the fourth but Cunningham scored four straight points and Alexey Shved hit a 3-pointer to make it 96-82 with 7:46 remaining.

Boston could not get any closer than eight down the stretch in losing for the seventh time in nine games. Avery Bradley led six Celtics in double figures with 19 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pierce is expected to play Wednesday at home against Detroit. ... Minnesota PG Ricky Rubio shot 2-for-11 but had a game-high 10 assists. ... Pekovic made all 11 of his free throws as the Timberwolves went 25-for-27 from the line. Boston was just 9-for-14.