Twelve games into this season, the Orlando Magic have as many wins as they do losses and have done very little to answer the lingering questions regarding their legitimacy as a championship contender.

But this much is for sure: With Tracy McGrady dominating on the offensive end the way he did Wednesday night, the Magic are practically unbeatable.

McGrady scored at will against Minnesota defensive stopper Kevin Garnett, accounting for 39 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Orlando's 117-106 defeat of the red-hot Timberwolves in front of 15,014 fans at TD Waterhouse Centre.

"This was a must win . . . a really big win for us," McGrady said. "I felt I had to set the tone for my team and you could see I was feeling it with my shot early on. And when my shot starts to fall like that it opens up my whole game and helps everybody else in the offense."

But the Magic haven't become the top scoring team in the NBA with just McGrady. Point guard Darrell Armstrong and Pat Garrity hit back-breaking 3-pointers late in the fourth period after the Timberwolves (9-2) had pulled within five points.

Armstrong had 29 points, hitting 5 of 9 3-pointers. The Magic made 12 of 27 3-pointers in the game.

Garrity missed his first six shots and seven of his first eight before his 3-point dagger with a minute remaining.