Minneapolis ? Troy Hudson filled the shoes of Sam Cassell just fine, helping end the New Jersey Nets’ winning streak at 14 games.

Hudson, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Cassell, scored a season-high 29 points as Minnesota beat New Jersey, 81-68, Wednesday night to hand Nets coach Lawrence Frank his first loss.

“Losing is a part of the game,” Frank said. “Nobody likes it. Nobody accepts it. The only thing you can do is learn from it.”

The Nets’ winning streak was the longest in the NBA this season.

Hudson, the streaky shooter who has been hampered all season by a sprained ankle, erased any hope for Frank’s 14th consecutive win with 12 fourth-quarter points. Hudson and Fred Hoiberg scored Minnesota’s first 20 points of the quarter, and the Wolves used a 15-0 run to open a 75-58 lead.

Kevin Garnett scored 18 points and Wally Szczerbiak, who missed 53 games because of a plantar fascia strain, added a season-high 14 points for the first-place Timberwolves.

Cassell was held out of the game with left ankle tendinitis, and Latrell Sprewell was held to three points on 1-for-6 shooting. But the Wolves’ big three of a year ago — Garnett, Szczerbiak and Hudson — came through.

The last time Hudson scored like he did Wednesday night was against the Los Angeles Lakers in last year’s playoffs. He tried to come back from his injury earlier in the season, but only reaggravated his ankle.

Kenyon Martin led the Nets with 18 points, while Kerry Kittles and Jason Kidd each had 11.

Minnesota's Troy Hudson, left, drives on New Jersey forward Aaron Williams. The Timberwolves beat the Nets, 81-68, Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Hornets 99, Clippers 93

New Orleans — Baron Davis’ 26 points and nine assists led New Orleans out of a two-game losing skid. Elton Brand led Los Angeles with 19 points, while reserve Chris Wilcox had 18.

Bucks 106, Celtics 104

Boston — Walter McCarty’s three-pointer was waved off at the buzzer as Boston lost its seventh in a row. Michael Redd scored 26 for Milwaukee.

Wizards 76, Raptors 74

Toronto — Gilbert Arenas scored all seven of his points in the final five minutes and Kwame Brown had 16 as Washington ended a five-game losing streak.

Warriors 99, Grizzlies 92

Memphis, Tenn. — Speedy Claxton had a career-high 28 points and dished seven assists as Golden State snapped Memphis’ five-game winning streak.

Pistons 107, Bulls 88

Chicago — Richard Hamilton had 21 points and Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and seven rebounds. Detroit extended its lead on Wallace’s alley-oop dunk from Tayshaun Prince to make it 92-73 with 8:00 left in the game — a play that sent Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who was in attendance, out of his suite.

Suns 113, Knicks 95

Phoenix — Joe Johnson scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and 14 rebounds as the Suns dominated the boards 58-26 and handed the Knicks their fourth straight loss.

Lakers 112, Nuggets 111

Denver — Kareem Rush hit a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left, lifting the Lakers to a controversial win. Denver’s Andre Miller appeared to hit the rim with a shot that barely beat the shot clock and Carmelo Anthony rebounded, but the whistle blew for a shot-clock violation. The officials huddled and ruled it was an inadvertent whistle, resulting in a jump ball. The Lakers got possession, and Rush hit his three-pointer.

Rockets 90, Cavaliers 84

Houston — Cuttino Mobley scored 22 points and fed the ball to Yao Ming for a crucial dunk in the closing seconds as Houston held off LeBron James and Cleveland.

Jazz 93, Sonics 92, OT

Seattle — Andrei Kirilenko scored two critical baskets in overtime and Utah beat Seattle for the second time in two nights. The Jazz won despite a 40-point outing by Ray Allen, seven short of his career-high.