The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets have stopped showing their age and started showing their experience.

Baron Davis had 23 points and 10 assists, while 13-year veteran Stacy Augmon came off the bench for 17 points, including two shot clock beaters in the final period. The Hornets evened their first-round playoff series with a 96-85 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4 Tuesday night.

Miami, by far the younger team, was hurt by a late mistake by rookie Dwyane Wade, who failed to inbound the ball before the requisite five seconds with 53.6 seconds left and the Hornets leading 88-82.

After that, Miami was forced to foul. New Orleans hit the free throws to pull away. The series resumes Friday night in Miami. The home team has won every game.

Augmon and another veteran role player, George Lynch, combined to shoot 11-for-16 as the Hornets shot 50 percent as a team. Lynch finished with 11.

Jamaal Magloire and David Wesley each scored 12 points for New Orleans, while former Xavier star David West had eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter.

MIAMI (85)-C.Butler 3-11 1-2 7, Odom 9-17 7-7 25, Grant 3-9 0-0 6, Wade 4-12 3-3 11, Jones 6-14 1-2 16, Alston 3-8 2-2 9, R.Butler 1-2 0-0 3, Haslem 3-6 2-2 8, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Wang 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-79 16-18 85.

NEW ORLEANS (96)-Lynch 5-6 0-0 11, P.Brown 2-9 0-0 4, Magloire 4-8 4-4 12, Davis 9-21 0-2 23, Wesley 3-7 6-6 12, West 4-6 2-2 10, Armstrong 2-3 2-2 7, Augmon 6-10 5-6 17. Totals 35-70 19-22 96.

Miami	17	27	27	14-85
New Orleans	22	28	18	28-96

3-Point Goals-Miami 5-22 (Jones 3-10, R.Butler 1-2, Alston 1-6, C.Butler 0-2, Odom 0-2), New Orleans 7-17 (Davis 5-12, Lynch 1-2, Armstrong 1-2, Wesley 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Miami 41 (Grant 9), New Orleans 46 (P.Brown, West 7). Assists-Miami 21 (Wade 10), New Orleans 27 (Davis 10). Total fouls-Miami 24, NO 18. A-16,009.

Timberwolves 84, Nuggets 82

DENVER - Kevin Garnett had 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists Tuesday night, helping the Timberwolves hold off the Denver Nuggets 84-82 for a 3-1 series lead.

Garnett had several heated exchanges with the Nuggets after being pushed around in Game 3, but kept his cool this time. He finished 8-for-17 and was 11-for-15 on free throws to put Minnesota in position to get past the opening round for the first time in eight tries.

It almost wasn't enough.

Minnesota led by eight midway through the fourth quarter, but Marcus Camby cut it to 76-74 on a 3-point play with 4:43 left that got the crowd on its feet.

The Timberwolves pushed it back to a six-point lead, but Voshon Lenard hit a 3-pointer and had a steal that led to another 3 that made it 81-80 with 1:14 left.

Latrell Sprewell answered with a 3-pointer in the corner, then Nene scored on a dunk to make it 84-82 with 18 seconds left. Sprewell missed two free throws with 12 seconds remaining at the other end. But Andre Miller missed a shot in the lane and Lenard was nowhere close on a turnaround at the buzzer.

MINNESOTA (84)

Sprewell 6-16 0-2 13, Garnett 8-17 11-15 27, Johnson 1-3 2-4 4, Cassell 4-10 6-7 15, Hassell 7-10 0-0 14, Martin 0-0 2-2 2, Olowokandi 0-1 0-0 0, Hoiberg 4-8 0-0 9, Madsen 0-0 0-0 0, Trent 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 21-30 84.

DENVER (82)

Anthony 1-16 0-0 2, Nene 4-10 3-4 11, Camby 3-7 3-6 9, Lenard 11-20 0-0 28, A.Miller 6-16 1-3 13, Elson 0-3 0-0 0, Boykins 4-12 2-2 10, Barry 1-3 0-0 3, Doleac 1-2 0-0 2, Andersen 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 33-92 9-15 82.

Minnesota	20	16	30	18	-	84
Denver	20	16	27	19	-	82

3-Point Goals-Minnesota 3-7 (Sprewell 1-1, Cassell 1-3, Hoiberg 1-3), Denver 7-13 (Lenard 6-7, Barry 1-1, Anthony 0-2, Boykins 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Minnesota 49 (Garnett 14), Denver 61 (Camby 14). Assists-Minnesota 15 (Garnett 5), Denver 18 (Camby 5). Total fouls-Minnesota 22, Denver 24. Technicals-Johnson, Denver Defensive Three Second, Anthony. A-19,694 (19,099).

NBA playoffs

FIRST ROUND

Monday's games

Detroit 109, Milwaukee 92, Detroit leads series 3-1

Sacramento 94, Dallas 92, Sacramento leads series 3-1

Tuesday's games

New Orleans 96, Miami 85. Series tied 2-2

Minnesota at Denver, late.

Today's game

Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m.,

Los Angeles leads series 3-1

Thursday's games

Milwaukee at Detroit, 8 p.m.,

Detroit leads series 3-1

Dallas at Sacramento, 10:30 p.m.,

Sacramento leads series 3-1