76ers 85, Timberwolves 77: Michael Carter-Williams produced 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as visiting Philadelphia beat Minnesota to avoid matching the worst start in NBA history.

Robert Covington added a season-best 17 points – including three fourth-quarter 3-pointers – and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and K.J. McDaniels each had 12 points and nine rebounds for the 76ers. The win by Philadelphia (1-17) keeps the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets (0-18) as owners of the poorest start.

Thaddeus Young scored 16 points and Gorgui Dieng contributed season highs of 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who shot just 35.7 percent from the field. Mo Williams had 14 points and seven assists for Minnesota, which has lost 11 of its last 13 games.

The 76ers had a one-point edge entering the fourth quarter and two 3-pointers by Covington and two free throws by McDaniels helped make it a seven-point margin with 5:57 remaining. The Timberwolves answered with an 11-2 push to move ahead 75-73 before Philadelphia responded with a 10-2 surge to take an 83-77 on Nerlens Noel’s dunk with 46.7 seconds to play and Mbah a Moute later sealed it with two free throws.

Philadelphia used an 11-1 run to close the first quarter and take a 23-13 lead. Things went downhill in the second as the 76ers went 3-of-15 from the field and Minnesota used a 13-1 quarter-ending run to take a 34-32 halftime lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The 76ers were 5-of-24 from 3-point range with four coming in the fourth quarter. … Young, who used to play for Philadelphia, was 6-of-16 from the field and committed four turnovers. … Philadelphia was without SG Tony Wroten (knee) while Minnesota’s list of injured players included C Nikola Pekovic (wrist), F Ronny Turiaf (hip), SG Kevin Martin (wrist) and PG Ricky Rubio (ankle).