Playing their first game since leading scorer Michael Redd suffered a seasonending knee injury, and with center Andrew Bogut sidelined by back spasms, the Bucks trimmed Minnesota's lead to five with 4:11 remaining.

Then Al Jefferson stepped up, digging out a loose ball to hit a big basket and then kicking the ball out to Ryan Gomes for a killer three-pointer with 1:46 left as the Wolves nailed down a 90-83 victory at the Bradley Center.

"I had to find a way to slow it," Jefferson said. "They were doing a good job, fronting me and making me work to get the ball. I just had to find a way."

Jefferson had 23 points and Gomes a season-high 22 to lead Minnesota, which ran its winning streak to three games and improved to an NBA-best 10-2 in January.

Randy Foye and Kevin Love added 12 points apiece for the Wolves (16-27), who evened their record under Kevin McHale at 12-12 after an 0-8 start.

The Wolves appeared to put this one away in the third period, outscoring Milwaukee 27-17 to turn a 47-43 halftime lead into a seemingly comfortable 74-60 cushion.

The Bucks (22-26) wouldn't quit, however, using a 13-3 run to trim their deficit to 81-76 on two Ramon Sessions free throws with 4:11 remaining.

Cue Big Play No. 1, as Jefferson came up with a loose ball off the hands of Sessions and at least one or two other players.

"He was trying to save it and throw it back," Jefferson said. "Somebody hit it, somebody else hit it and I grabbed it and scored."

The Bucks got a jumper from Richard Jefferson with 2:14 to play to make it 83-78 when Big Al made Big Play No. 2 with his pass out to Gomes at the three-point line.

"I knew he had enough time to shoot it," Jefferson said. "He shot it, made it. That was a key to the game."

Gomes said Jefferson played it perfectly, waiting for the double-team defense to come to him before hitting his teammate for the open three.

"They knew the shot clock was running down and he was able to still get a clean pass to me," Gomes said, "and I just hoped and prayed that it went in, and it did."

McHale said Gomes was tremendous all night but didn't like the fact that his team took 27 three-pointers, making just eight.

"We're getting a little three-happy here," he said. "We'll have to try and nix that a little bit. I don't mind the open corner threes. I think we're starting to take some on the break that we've got to rethink a little bit."

Gomes said the Wolves must do a better job of putting together four solid quarters, especially with weekend games coming up against the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after a Wednesday home date against the Detroit Pistons at Target Center.

"We need to do that," Gomes said. "We're finding a way to win, but still certain nights are not going to come out that way. Especially the starting unit has got to come out with a lot more energy and set the tone for what the game's going to be."

Starting in Redd's place, Sessions had 18 points to lead the Bucks, and Jefferson said wounded teams can be the most dangerous because other players want to show the coach they can play.

Jefferson disagreed that the Wolves played a sloppy fourth quarter, but he conceded that this was another game they probably wouldn't have won a month or two ago.

"Honestly, no," he said. "When they made that run, we would have probably just faded, but we answered back. I think that's all that matters."