Timberwolves rally to beat Hornets in OT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Andrew Wiggins had 29 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 27 points and 15 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Charlotte Hornets 125-120 in overtime at Spectrum Center on Saturday.
The Timberwolves used a spirited fourth-quarter comeback that began with a 10-0 run and a dominant overtime stanza to seal the victory.
Minnesota improved to 6-14. Five players scored in double-digits, including 17 points from Zach LaVine and 12 each from Shabazz Muhammad and Nemanja Bjelica.
Charlotte dropped to 11-9, and the Hornets lost two of their last three games. Guard Kemba Walker led the team with 22 points while forward Frank Kaminsky chipped in 21 points. Nicolas Batum was just shy of a triple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.
Though Minnesota was sluggish throughout most the game - which was the second night of a back-to-back -- the Wolves scored 10 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter and knotted the score at 84-84 with 8:18 remaining.
Charlotte built its lead back to 104-97 with 1:26 left after a 3-pointer from Kaminsky before Minnesota made another run that included three 3-pointers in the final 38.8 seconds.
The capper came when Ricky Rubio forced Walker into a turnover on an inbounds play with 38 seconds remaining. Walker stepped out of bounds while attempting to avoid Rubio on the baseline, and Rubio then knocked in a 3-pointer with 31.9 seconds left to slice Charlotte's advantage to 104-103.
A Walker jumper with 14.6 seconds left pushed the Hornets' edge to 106-103. But Wiggins knocked in a 3-pointer with 8.9 seconds left to even the score at 106-106 and force overtime.
In the extra period, Minnesota knocked in seven straight points, culminating with a powerful Towns dunk that gave the Wolves a 113-106 edge with 3:58 left that Charlotte could not overcome.
Charlotte had led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter.
NOTES: The Timberwolves lost seven of eight games heading into Saturday's contest with Charlotte, and coach Tom Thibodeau, known for his defense, wasn't happy with Minnesota allowing opponents to shoot .471. "As a team we have to get a lot better and understand that it's not a sometimes thing," Thibodeau said. "That's something we have to count on every night." Rookie G Kris Dunn had six points on 2-for-3 shooting and five assists against New York on Friday, and Thibodeau called it one of his best games of the season. "He was attacking on both ends of the floor and that sort of set the tone for us," Thibodeau said. ... Charlotte guard Kemba Walker leads the Hornets in scoring with a 23.9 point-per-game average entering Saturday's game. ... Hornets F Marvin Williams missed his fifth game with a hyperextended left knee. Coach Steve Clifford said Williams participated in five-on-five drills at shootaround Saturday, however, and anticipates he could return later this week. ... The Hornets next play at Dallas on Monday while Minnesota's next game is at home Tuesday against San Antonio.