The Minnesota Timberwolves used a strong fourth quarter performance by Rashad McCants, who scored 13 of his 15 in the final quarter, to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in their preseason debut 88-82, the Associated Press is reporting.

"In the fourth quarter, coach puts the players on the floor he knows can sustain runs, play defense, put some points on the board," McCants said. "In the fourth quarter we did all those things. We made stops."

"We withstood their runs, and we were able to make one of our own and then were able to keep the lead. In the past, we weren't able to do those things. We'd get up and when we'd lose the lead we'd be finished for the rest of the game."

Damien Wilkins led the Thunder with 19 points, including a layup to tie the score at 78 with 3:04 to play.