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CHICAGO -- Both the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves were missing their starting centres. The Timberwolves were able to overcome the adversity. Kevin Love scored 31 points to lead the Timberwolves over the Bulls 95-86 Monday night. Ronny Turiaf added 14 points for the Timberwolves, who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulls and won for the fourth time in five games overall. Timberwolves centre Nikola Pekovic exited with a sore right Achilles tendon midway through the first quarter. Turiaf, who was averaging 2.3 points, scored a season high in his absence. "He stepped up when Pekovic went out, and he brings a lot," Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio said. "He brought everything he had." The Bulls were also without their starting centre. Joakim Noah was sent home before the game due to an illness. Kirk Hinrich (strained right hamstring) missed his fourth straight game. "They had some people out too, but we knew it was going to be a physical game," Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said. "We knew how they were going to play, and I thought we responded pretty well." Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and D.J. Augustin added 19 points for the Bulls. Pekovic, who was averaging 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds, said he hopes his injury is not serious. The injury has been bothering Pekovic during the teams road trip, Adelman said. Pekovic had one point and one rebound in 6 minutes. In Pekovics absence, Turiaf grabbed seven rebounds and had his highest-scoring game since he scored 19 points on Jan. 11, 2011, for the New York Knicks against the Portland Trailblazers. "My goal this year, regardless of the situation, is just to go out there and have some fun," Turiaf said. "No matter how much or how little I play, I just want to have fun." The Bulls pulled within five with 1:29 left on Augustins 3-pointer but got no closer. Love answered with a layup with 1:10 remaining, and Corey Brewers dunk gave the Timberwolves an 88-79 lead with 57.4 seconds left. The Timberwolves improved to 2-11 on the road when scoring fewer than 109 points. Minnesota shot 46.6 per cent compared to the Bulls 37.6 per cent. "We need that," Love said. "We communicated really well and we definitely contested a lot of shots." Chicago had won four of five and is 10-4 in January. Chase Budinger added 12 points off the bench for Minnesota, and Brewer had 11. Jimmy Butler scored 16 points, and Mike Dunleavy and Taj Gibson each had 10 for the Bulls. Gibson started at centre in place of Noah and had eight points and seven rebounds at halftime before running into foul trouble in the second half. "Hes an All-Star. Youre going to feel it," Gibson said about the Bulls missing Noah. "He was playing real phenomenal. Hes one of the vocal leaders, rebounding, playing defence, controlling the offensive end and making plays for guys. "We got to keep pushing forward." The Timberwolves went cold in the third quarter as the Bulls outscored them 19-18 and pulled within five. Minnesota had one field goal in the final 7:38 of the period -- Budingers dunk with 34.9 seconds left. The Wolves led 72-65 heading into the fourth. The Bulls had won by an average of 13.3 points during their seven-game winning streak against the Timberwolves. Minnesota last won in Chicago on Jan. 3, 2009. "When you lose a guy like Jo your margin for error is smaller," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said about Noah. "We can get it done. Youve got to give Minnesota credit. Theyre playing real well right now. We can never lose sight of how hard we have to play. We cant play hard for 32 minutes. We have to play hard the whole game." NOTES: The Timberwolves ranked second in the NBA in scoring at 106.8 points per game coming in. The Bulls were holding opponents to 92.9 points per game, second in the league. ... 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Locker says its always tough staying on the sideline.Whisenhunt still wants to see how Locker feels Thursday after a full practice. The Titans want to make sure all the soreness is out of Lockers wrist, which he injured in a 33-7 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 21, because the quarterback easily could put his hand down to the ground bracing himself risking further injury.He did a lot today, and if it responds the way we think its going to, then everythings good, Whisenhunt said.Having Locker back is one thing. The quarterback playing better is another. Locker has struggled in his last two starts and had four interceptions in those games. The Titans also didnt score a single point in the first half of either of those losses, a trend they finally ended with 10 points in Indianapolis with Whitehurst last week.Asked what he needs Locker to do better, Whisenhunt said everybody has to play better.Its hard to single out any one person, because there are a lot of things, Whisenhunt said. First of all, weve got to quit turning the ball over, weve got to make plays on thhe ball defensively, special teams weve got to do a better job.dddddddddddd. I could go on. There are a lot things that we need to improve.Locker started off the season strong throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Kansas City, a victory that looks more impressive with the Chiefs routing New England on Monday night. Locker said he has looked at what he didnt do well through the first month of the season, and he thinks being more precise on details in each play can make a big difference.When youre not winning and things arent going the way youd like them to go, Ive always believed the first place you have to look is yourself, Locker said. And its no different in this situation.The Titans (1-3) host the Browns (1-2) on Sunday having lost three straight. Theyve also been outscored 100-34 in this skid, and Whisenhunt has said he will simplify the offence a bit to help the Titans. Locker said that can help players not be as mindful and play faster.Its something I think is an effort on coachs part for us to really hone in and focus on the smaller details within each play and execute them really crisply all 11 guys, Locker said.Notes: CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (concussion) did not practice, and Whisenhunt said theres a possibility Coty Sensabaugh replaces him if the cornerback is not cleared in time before Sunday. ... TE Taylor Thompson (knee) did not practice. TE Delanie Walker (shoulder) was limited. DT Jurrell Casey (foot) and DE Ropati Pitoitua (knee) practiced fully.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '