MINNEAPOLIS, March 17 (Ticker) -- Karl Malone and John Stockton finally led the Utah Jazz to victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Malone had 27 points and 12 rebounds and Stockton contributed 22 points and eight assists as the Jazz ended a five-game losing streak against the Timberwolves with a 96-89 triumph over their Midwest Division rivals.

Utah also opened a 2 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Malone and Stockton scored all but two of the Jazz's 23 points in the final eight minutes as they won their second straight contest after ending a season-high four-game slide on Friday at Detroit.

NBA TV highlights from Jazz-Wolves: 56k | 300k John Stockton looks to create on the baseline against the Wolves. David Sherman NBAE/Getty Images

Malone, who returned after missing Friday's game -- his first absence due to injury or illness since April 22, 1989 -- also helped limit fellow All-Star Kevin Garnett to 16 points on 3-of-14 shooting.

"He was holding the ball over his head," Malone said. "I've watched Kevin a lot and know he likes to hold the ball up to see where the defense is coming from because he's a great passer. So the split-second he turned his head, I was able to punch it out, and that kind of kept him a little bit at bay."

Wally Szczerbiak stepped up for Minnesota, scoring 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting. But it was not enough to prevent the Timberwolves from suffering their season-high seventh straight defeat.

"We're banged up, but a lot of it is mental," Szczerbiak said. "When you go through stretches like this, it seems like the little things cost you the game. It seems like nothing is going right."

Minnesota slipped into sixth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Portland.

Stockton hit a pair of free throws with 7:52 to play to give Utah a 75-67 advantage.

After Minnesota guard Anthony Peeler, who contributed 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting, nailed a jump shot, Malone converted a three-point play to make it 78-70.

"That's what we need to do more often (being opportunistic)," Stockton said. "The last few times we've played them, I think we've done the opposite. It was good to get one."

The Timberwolves pulled within four on Szczerbiak's jumper. But Malone scored the next four points, hitting two free throws with 5:21 left to restore Utah's eight-point lead, 82-74.

"Karl hit some tough shots. We weren't giving him easy, close-in looks, but Stockton was the biggest factor," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said. "He is a phenomenal athlete at age 40 who can control the game and do the things he does."

Stockton also led the Jazz on a 10-1 run to secure the victory at Detroit.

Szczerbiak tried to spark a comeback again as his layup with just over three minutes remaining reduced Minnesota's deficit to four.

After Stockton sank two free throws, Szczerbiak hit 3-of-4 from the line with 2:29 to go, cutting Utah's lead to 86-83. But Minnesota got no closer.

Malone recorded his lone steal -- to go along with three blocked shots -- by forcing Garnett to committ his third turnover.

"(Malone) was just there to be able to get a piece of the basketball inside," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "He's always been able to get to people if they drag the ball a little bit inside. He's got terrific hands."

"We are not getting easy buckets for K.G.," Peeler said. "He's having to earn every shot and we have to help him more."

Stockton converted a layup and Malone hit a pair from the line to make it 90-83 with 92 seconds left. The Jazz maintained at least a five-point lead thereafter.