Garnett enjoys happy Minnesota return with Celtics

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Boston's Kevin Garnett made his long-awaited return to the court in Minnesota on Friday and led the Celtics to a 95-78 victory over the Timberwolves.

The Celtics' All-Star power forward scored a team-high 17 points in his first game back at the Target Center since being traded from the Timberwolves to Boston prior to last season.

Garnett received an appreciative reception from the crowd in Minnesota where he spent his first 12 seasons, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals and winning an MVP Award in 2004.

"It's always good to go somewhere and feel the love in the building," Garnett told reporters.

Garnett was injured during the Celtics' trip to Minnesota last season and did not play, but went on to win his first NBA title in June.

"When you get a crowd like that you want to show them we're competing," Timberwolves forward Ryan Gomes said. "Tonight, we didn't show them that at all."

The defending NBA champion Celtics exhibited teamwork and balance on a night they had six players scoring in double figures and improved to 12-2 on the year.

Al Jefferson led all scorers with 23 points for Minnesota, which has won just two of 11 games this season.

The young Timberwolves took a 39-36 lead into halftime but went cold in the second half, and made a franchise-low two field goals in the third quarter. They finished 31 percent (26-for-83) from the field for the game.

Boston took control of the game in the second half by outscoring the Timberwolves 35-10 in the third where Rajon Rondo made a 30-footer as time expired to end the period.

Rondo finished with 13 points and seven rebounds to go along with 12 points from Paul Pierce.

Trying his best to stay composed in the first half, Garnett let loose in the second half and scored eight in the pivotal third.

"I thought Kevin almost talked himself into not being too emotional," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

"I like the nutty, high-energy Kevin. In the second half, he started playing again."

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by John O'Brien)