MINNEAPOLIS - So much for Kevin Love’s monster month. Love put up a double-double for the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night, but the Celtics took a 100-79 victory.

Kevin Garnett and Greg Stiemsma combined to hold Love to 5-for-18 shooting as the Celtics (29-22) overtook Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division.

This was one of the Celtics’ strongest defensive performances of the season, and the team’s ability to consistently get stops led to an effective transition game, with Rajon Rondo producing his 12th successive double-digit assist total.

“I thought our defense was solid,’’ said Garnett (24 points, 10 rebounds). “Kevin Love is really good, he’s really solid, very, very offensive-minded. I’ve been watching him, keeping track of all his accolades, and what he’s been doing of late.

“If you know anything about me, you know I was more than ready and prepared for tonight. We already know how Kevin Love goes is how the Timberwolves go, so we knew if we slowed him down we had a good chance to open up the game - and we did.’’

Garnett last played for Minnesota in the 2006-07 season, but he was intent on turning the clock back to his best years in this game.

After a slow start, Garnett went for a 10-point final quarter, drilling consecutive jumpers after Minnesota had closed to within 88-78.

“It was just a situation where I know [Love] doesn’t really play a lot of defense,’’ Garnett said of the fourth quarter. “He does get a lot of rebounds and shoots a lot of threes. I felt like I had the advantage and I took it. It wasn’t nothing more than that.

“I know this building very well and I’m very comfortable in this building. So, I just reverted back to ’04, if you will.’’

Love (22 points, 11 rebounds) was averaging 31.3 points and 14.1 rebounds during March.