New Orleans ? The Hornets have stopped showing their age and started showing off their experience.

Baron Davis had 23 points and 10 assists, and 13-year veteran Stacy Augmon came off the bench for 17 points, including two shot-clock beaters in the final period, as New Orleans evened its first-round playoff series with a 96-85 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4 Tuesday night.

“Things are starting to come together,” Davis said. “Tying it up 2-2 puts a little more pressure on them to hold serve on their home court. We’re going in there with the utmost confidence. We just have to play to our experience.”

Miami was hurt by a late mistake by rookie Dwyane Wade, who failed to inbound the ball before the requisite five seconds with 53.6 seconds left and the Hornets leading, 88-82.

After that, Miami was forced to foul. New Orleans hit the free throws to pull away.

The series resumes Friday night in Miami. The home team has won every game.

New Orleans, which looked overwhelmed by a younger, more athletic Miami team after the Heat took Game 2, 93-63, looked composed and rarely rushed or forced shots in hitting 50 percent from the floor.

Augmon and another veteran role player, George Lynch, combined to shoot 11-for-16 as Lynch finished with 11 points.

“Showing your age is a misconception. Those first two games we took a lot of bad shots on their floor,” Lynch said. “We like to say the older you get, the smarter you become as a basketball player, and when you’ve got (opponents) that are more athletic and faster, you’ve got to find a way to slow it down and keep them from playing to their strengths.”

Miami forward Caron Butler, left, passes around New Orleans' George Lynch, right, and Baron Davis. The Hornets beat the Heat, 96-85, Tuesday in New Orleans.

Miami coach Stan Van Gundy called small forwards Augmon and Lynch “the guys that really hurt us.”

“For them to get 28 points at that position … they just dominated that spot today,” Van Gundy said.

Some of New Orleans’ tougher shots fell, as well, such as two double-pump threes by Davis.

“He’s a great player … some of those shots he hit were just crazy,” Miami guard Eddie Jones said.

Timberwolves 84, Nuggets 82

Minnesota center Ervin Johnson (40) pulls down a rebound against Denver in front of teammate Kevin Garnett. The Timberwolves beat the Nuggets, 84-82, Tuesday in Denver.

Denver — Kevin Garnett’s determination has the Minnesota Timberwolves within a game of reaching the second round.

Garnett had 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, helping the Timberwolves hold off the Denver Nuggets for a 3-1 series lead.

Garnett finished 8-for-17 and was 11-for-15 on free throws to put Minnesota in position to get past the opening round for the first time in eight tries.