Timberwolves 107, Bucks 98: Nikola Pekovic collected 27 points and eight rebounds to lead all five scorers in double figures as visiting Minnesota put a dent in Milwaukee’s playoff plans.

Ricky Rubio hit a career-high five 3-pointers en route to 19 points and added 12 assists and a career-high eight steals for the Timberwolves, who have made life difficult for potential playoff teams over the last week. Minnesota beat the Boston Celtics on Monday and knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder last Friday.

Ersan Ilyasova had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Monta Ellis scored 18 as the Bucks dropped 2 1/2 games behind the Celtics in the battle for the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee is six games up on ninth-place Philadelphia with eight to play.

Ilyasova scored 12 points in the third quarter to keep the game close but Pekovic’s layup gave the Timberwolves an 87-81 edge heading into the fourth. The Bucks would pull to within 95-91 on Larry Sanders’ jumper with 6:05 left.

Milwaukee was still within six when it called a timeout with 3:12 left but turned the ball over out of that break, leading to a short jumper by Rubio that sparked a 6-0 run to put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bucks travel to New York to face the Knicks on Friday and will play five of their next six on the road. … Sanders recorded his fourth straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. … Pekovic is averaging 26 points in his last three games.