MILWAUKEE (REUTERS) — Kevin Garnett had 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves ruined Gary Payton’s home debut with a 117-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night.

Garnett, averaging 28.2 points and 14.2 rebounds in February, now has an NBA-best 47 double-doubles. He also was 12-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Wally Szczerbiak made all 12 of his free throws and added 26 points for Minnesota, which has won four straight and 10 of 11 overall. Garnett and Szczerbiak combined to score 13 of the Timberwolves’ final 16 points.

Payton, a nine-time All-Star, finished with a team-high 21 points and nine assists. It was his first game in Milwaukee since he and Desmond Mason were traded from Seattle Thursday in exchange for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a conditional 2003 draft pick. In his first game with the Bucks, a 93-90 win at Portland Saturday, Payton led the Bucks with 22 points.

Minnesota led 89-72 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Milwaukee rallied and cut the lead to two, 116-114, when Sam Cassell stole an inbounds pass and fed Mason for a layup with 2 seconds left. But Troy Hudson, who had 21 points, made one free throw, and Garnett stole the inbounds pass to seal the victory.

It was Minnesota’s eighth consecutive win over Milwaukee.

The Bucks, who lost for the fifth time in six games, also got 19 points from Michael Redd and 18 points and seven assists from Cassell.

Minnesota closed out the second quarter with a 22-8 run to lead at halftime, 60-51.

Notes: Both teams combined to shoot 17 of 18 from the free-throw line in the first half. Minnesota was 13-of-14. … Minnesota won its seventh game in a row at the Bradley Center. The last time Milwaukee won a home game against the Timberwolves was Feb. 8, 1995. … Minnesota is 33-1 when leading or tied after the third quarter. … The reunited tandem of Bucks coach George Karl and Payton entered the game with a regular-season record of 25-1 against Minnesota (1992-’98). … Minnesota has already set a franchise record for February victories (10-1) and needs to finish 1-1 to post its highest monthly winning percentage of all time (12-3 in January 2000). … The Timberwolves won their seventh-straight game against an Eastern opponent.