NBA: Hornets stay hot with 2nd-half surge past Timberwolves

LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 122-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening.

Miles Bridges added 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for Charlotte (43-36), which extended its winning streak to four games. Coby White contributed 17 points off the bench to help secure the win.

For Minnesota (46-32), Julius Randle led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds. Bones Hyland added 18 points off the bench, while Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Charlotte shot 48.9% (45 of 92) from the field and 42.2% (19 of 45) from 3-point range. Minnesota finished at 45.8% (38 of 83) overall and 36.8% (14 of 38) from beyond the arc. The Hornets outscored the Timberwolves 67-48 in the second half to pull away for the win.

Minnesota held a four-point lead early in the third quarter after Randle made a turnaround jumper with 9:25 left, putting the Timberwolves ahead 66-62. Charlotte responded with a 9-0 run, sparked by a 3-pointer from Ball and capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Bridges, taking a 71-66 lead.

Sion James joined the scoring spree with a deep 3-pointer late in the third quarter, giving Charlotte a double-digit lead at 89-79. The Hornets opened the fourth quarter on a 16-6 run, extending their advantage to 20 points.

Minnesota was without key players Anthony Edwards, sidelined with right knee inflammation, and Jaden McDaniels, out with left knee soreness.

The Timberwolves scored 39 points in the second quarter to take a 60-55 halftime lead, fueled by Hyland’s 15 points, including four 3-pointers in five attempts. Charlotte led by eight points at the end of the first quarter, with Ball hitting three 3-pointers and Grant Williams adding two free throws in the final seconds to make it 29-21.

-Field Level Media/Reuters