Orlando (23-6) viewed its latest four-game homestand as a way to gauge itself against some of the league's best talent. The Magic passed that test, as they beat Southwest Division leading-San Antonio, the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State and New Orleans to extend their winning streak to six games.

Orlando wrapped up the homestand with an impressive 88-68 win over the Hornets on Christmas, as it led by as many as 31 points in the third quarter.

"Last year we would have won a big game or two and then come back and a lose a game we believed we should win," said Dwight Howard, who had 12 points and 15 rebounds. "So far we've been staying consistent. That's a great sign of maturity for a young team.

"We just have to stay hungry; we can't get satisfied with winning a couple games. It's still early in the season and we know teams are only going to get better throughout the season and we have to keep a level head. We want to be one of the best teams going into the playoffs so we just have to stay focused."

The Magic have won 10 of their last 11 games, and have not won seven consecutive games since an eight-game run from March 31-April 15, 2006.

Orlando has been winning with its defense, and had another stellar performance Thursday, holding the Hornets to an opponent season low in points on 33.3 percent shooting. In their last four games, the Magic are allowing an average of 82.5 points on 36.0 percent shooting.

"Right now we are in a good stretch and I think when you are playing this well you want to keep it going and you want to accumulate as many wins as you possibly can as a buffer for those times when it gets tough, where you have injuries or whatever," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said.

The Magic beat the Timberwolves 100-89 on Dec. 3, behind Howard's 23 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. The two-time All-Star is averaging 20.0 points and 17.0 boards in five games against Minnesota (5-23) since 2006-07.

The Timberwolves snapped a 13-game losing streak and won for the first time this season under Kevin McHale on Friday with a 120-107 win over New York.

Minnesota, which hadn't won since Nov. 28 at Oklahoma City, had dropped its first eight games under McHale, who took over when Randy Wittman was fired Dec. 8.

"The guys have been playing hard and we really needed this one," McHale said. "At the end of the game I said, 'Thank God,' and I meant it."

The Timberwolves, who own the league's third-worst record, are one of the worst 3-point shooting teams, but made a season-best 13 in 24 attempts against the Knicks.

Rashad McCants led the way Friday with a season-high 23 points on a career-high 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc after finishing with four points in Tuesday's 99-93 loss to San Antonio.

Minnesota now looks to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.