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Wednesday, Dec. 15 7:30pm ET
Timberwolves continue to slide | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Eddie Jones saved his best effort for last. Jones scored seven straight points in the final minute Wednesday to lift the Hornets to a 103-98 victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jones gave Charlotte the lead for good at 99-96 on a long 3-pointer with 48.1 seconds left to play. Jones' only points of the quarter came in that final minute. "I felt good all night with my jump shot," Jones said after the Hornets' first game in four days. "The rest was well-needed and I felt fresh tonight." Jones finished with 19 points and added to his NBA-leading steals total with four. He made four straight free throws in the final 24.5 seconds to seal the Hornets' season-best sixth straight victory. Malik Sealy came off the bench to score a game-high 27 points for Minnesota, which lost for the seventh straight time. "We're getting better, but we don't have anything to show for it," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said. "When you play a team like Charlotte, you have to take care of the ball, and we had 23 turnovers tonight that led to 27 points." Though the Hornets had a 23-15 advantage in turnovers, it was a huge rebounding edge that kept Minnesota in the game. With Kevin Garnett equaling his career high of 20 rebounds, the Timberwolves outrebounded the Hornets 46-33. The margin also produced a 22-3 advantage in second-chance points. Gradually chipping away at a 10-point fourth quarter deficit, the Timberwolves tied the game at 94-94 on a jumper by Terrell Brandon with 1:35 left to play. Jones answered with the 3-pointer on Charlotte's next possession from deep on the left wing. Jones added the clinching free throws after Charlotte's Elden Campbell blocked the Timberwolves' final shot by Tom Hammonds. Charlotte managed to hold on to the lead in the second half in spite of making just 14 of 25 free throws in the final two quarters. Minnesota built a 12-point second quarter lead. But rookie guard Baron Davis sparked a 27-9 Charlotte run as the Hornets took a 58-52 lead at halftime. "Our strong finish was very important," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "When teams make runs at us, we have to scratch back." Derrick Coleman led five Charlotte players in double figures with 20, while Anthony Mason added 13 rebounds. Game notesCharlotte worked three players back into the lineup Wednesday. Bobby Phills played after sitting out six games with a strained left hamstring. Campbell and Coleman each returned after bouts with the flu over the past several days. ... The Timberwolves are winless in 11 games at the Charlotte Coliseum. ... The Hornets are now 11-1 when scoring 100 or more points this season and 12-2 when holding opponents under 100 points. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Minnesota Clubhouse Charlotte Clubhouse RECAPS Utah 96 Boston 86
Charlotte 103
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