NBA: Towns, Timberwolves rally past Hornets in OT
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 celebrates making a three-point shot with D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during overtime against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on February 15, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. David Berding/Getty Images/AFP
Karl-Anthony Towns had 39 points and 15 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 126-120 in overtime on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Towns had seven points in overtime and scored with 1:57 left to put the Wolves ahead 120-113. Minnesota secured the victory at the foul line in the final minute and extended its home winning streak to seven games.
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D’Angelo Russell had 18 points and 11 assists, Jaden McDaniels added 18 points, Patrick Beverley scored 15 and Jarred Vanderbilt had 10 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which has won two straight and seven of its last nine.
Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Terry Rozier scored 25 points, LaMelo Ball added 22 points, and Mason Plumlee had 14 points, 17 rebounds and a season-high nine assists.
Article continues after this advertisementMinnesota star Anthony Edwards exited the game late in the second quarter with a right ankle sprain and did not return. Edwards had nine points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.
Montrezl Harrell scored 12 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 11 points for Charlotte, which has lost eight of its past nine games, including two straight.
The Hornets led by 13 early in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota battled back and pulled within 102-98 with 3:52 remaining.
Towns drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:30 left to give Minnesota its first lead since late in the second quarter at 105-104.
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After Towns made another trey with 55.4 seconds left, Bridges answered with a 3-pointer and tied the game at 108 after making one of two foul shots with 9.0 seconds left.
The teams headed to overtime after Russell’s 3-point attempt fell short at the buzzer.
Charlotte opened the game with five straight points before Minnesota responded with a 19-2 run. The Wolves led 27-24 after a sluggish first quarter that saw the teams shoot a combined 5 of 29 from 3-point range.
Minnesota led by six midway through the second quarter before Charlotte closed on a 25-13 run to move ahead 58-52 at the break.
Both teams struggled from 3-point range. Minnesota was 13 of 55 (23.6 percent) while Charlotte was 8 of 33 (24.2 percent).
