NEW YORK — The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a 13-game losing streak and won for the first time this season under Kevin McHale, getting a season-best 23 points from Rashad McCants in a 120-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Al Jefferson added 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who rode the combination of Jefferson's inside play and some sizzling 3-point shooting to win for the first time since beating Oklahoma City on Nov. 28. They had dropped their first eight games under McHale, who took over when Randy Wittman was fired Dec. 8.

Sebastian Telfair finished with a season-high 20 points and Randy Foye had 19 for the Wolves, who overran New York by using the Knicks' primary weapon, the 3-pointer. They came in 28th in the league in 3-point percentage and were making 4.6 per game — 6.0 fewer than New York's league-best average — but made a season-best 13 in 24 attempts (54 percent).

Nate Robinson and Al Harrington each scored 26 points for the Knicks, who lost their fifth straight. Wilson Chandler scored 19.

Minnesota was closing in on its longest losing streak, a 16-game skid. But the Wolves put seven players in double figures for McHale's first victory since he led the Wolves to a 19-12 mark after taking over when Flip Saunders was fired in the 2004-05 season.

Jefferson took over midway through the third quarter, bulling his way past smaller defenders to lead an 11-1 spurt that made it 82-64. The Knicks were then forced to help on him, freeing room for McCants, who nailed three 3-pointers later in the period to give Minnesota a 94-75 cushion entering the fourth.

The Knicks woke up after three sluggish quarters to pull within seven with about 4› minutes remaining, but Ryan Gomes hit a 3-pointer and Craig Smith converted a three-point play as Minnesota regained control at 112-99 with 3:40 remaining.

New York was without starter Quentin Richardson because of a sprained right ankle, but got Jared Jeffries back after he missed three games with a sore lower left leg. Point guard Chris Duhon left late in the first half after an inadvertent elbow from McCants opened a cut over his left eye, but he returned to start the second half after getting nine stitches.

The Wolves scored 10 straight as part of a 15-1 run midway through the second quarter, turning a two-point lead into a 58-42 lead on McCants' 3-pointer with 3:36 remaining. But they got sloppy and nine points from Harrington in the final 1:54 cut it to 63-55 at the break.