Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes (7) goes to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves won 118-105. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves got a big boost from their bench in a 118-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

D’Angelo Russell returned with 22 points and eight assists after missing four games because of a left shin contusion, and Malik Beasley had 20 points off the bench.

Minnesota’s preferred starting lineup was back together for the first time in seven games with Russell’s return. But it was the work of the second unit that helped the Timberwolves overcome a sluggish start to the matinee affair. Minnesota won its fourth straight.

“It’s a good test of our maturity right now,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said, crediting the way Detroit played. “They compete, they’re physical, do a lot of things that can bother you. Every time we had a chance to stretch the lead, I thought we kind of got a little bit sloppy. Attention to detail wasn’t where it probably needed to be and those are things we have to work on and work through.”

Saddiq Bey scored 24 points for Detroit, which has lost eight of nine. Trey Lyles added 16, and Cory Joseph had 15.

“I thought we played some good basketball,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “We just didn’t play long enough periods of it, long enough stretches of it. That’s the mark of us this year, our growth potential I would say, is to make sure we extend that because I thought the ball was hopping. I thought we had some good defensive possessions.”

Injuries and COVID-19 have led to constant change for Minnesota’s starting lineup. Russell’s return finally reunited coach Chris Finch’s preferred lineup with Russell, Towns, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Patrick Beverley.

Before Russell’s injury, Beverley had missed games with a right ankle sprain and COVID-19 struck the team in November. With those five in the lineup, Minnesota is 12-5.

Russell had nine of his points in the fourth as the Wolves pulled away.