Timberwolves 113, Hornets 102: Nikola Pekovic scored a career-high 31 points as visiting Minnesota posted its sixth victory in eight games.

Andrei Kirilenko added 21 points and 11 rebounds while combining with Pekovic to go 24-for-34 from the field for Minnesota, which shot a season-high 53.4 percent.

Rookie Austin Rivers scored a season-high 27 points for the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight game despite shooting 53.8 percent. Ryan Anderson added 20 points and Greivis Vasquez scored 15 while handing out a career-high 17 assists.

The Timberwolves took an 82-73 lead into the fourth quarter on Pekovic's layup with 12 seconds left in the third. New Orleans was within 90-86 with 6:52 remaining, but Pekovic and Kirilenko combined for 13 points over the next four-plus minutes to seal the win.

Luke Ridnour collected 15 points and 10 assists and Kevin Love contributed 14 points for the Timberwolves. Alexey Shved scored 13 and handed out a career-best eight assists.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said that G Ricky Rubio could make his season debut Saturday against Dallas. Rubio has not played since undergoing surgery on torn left knee ligaments in March. ... Minnesota starting G Malcolm Lee missed the game, and the team announced that he will be out indefinitely with a right knee injury. ... Rivers took three shots after halftime.