LaMelo Ball leads Hornets past Timberwolves 121-113

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) — LaMelo Ball had 32 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists andthe dagger 3-pointer down the stretch to lead the Charlotte Hornetspast the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-113 on Friday night.

GordonHayward added a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds and P.J.Washington had in 20 points for the Hornets. They won their thirdstraight overall and stopped a seven-game road skid, handing theTimberwolvesyet another setbackagainstan opponent buried in the standings.

“We’ve got awhole lot of talent on the team. Everybody can score. Everybody canshoot,” said Ball, who bested Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards inthis battle of two of the top three picks in the 2020 draft.Edwards had 29 points and eight rebounds, bringing the Wolves tolife in the fourth quarter and on the verge of avoiding a seconddamaging loss to the lottery-bound Hornets.

But afterEdwards hit aspin-dribble jumperon Ball for a 104-102lead with 6:41 left, Ball answered with astep-back3-pointerto put Charlotte back in front.

LaMelo knocks down the smooth stepbacktriple 😴29 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 4 3PMCHA-MIN | Live on the NBA App📲 https://t.co/1pomQZMAZKpic.twitter.com/qI9ZSSqaMO

Hayward’stip-in with 2:11 remaining gave the Hornets a 112-109 advantage.With 1:21 to go, Hayward passed up his own shot in the paint anddished to the top of the key for Ball’s fifth 3-pointer of the gameand a 117-111 lead.

“He certainlyisn’t afraid of any moment. It’s been fun to watch him develop overthese last three years,” Hayward said.

Rudy Goberthad 17 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Conley scored 15 points andNickiel Alexander-Walker added 13 points for the Wolves, who werelacking focus and foul-happy on defense and watched the Hornets go25 for 28 from the free-throw line.

“We’recapable of doing it. That’s why it’s more disappointing thananything,” Conley said. “We’ve just got to stop gambling, stopreaching, stop giving them opportunities at the free-throwline.”

Kelly OubreJr. returned for the Hornets from a 24-game absence with hisrecovery from left hand surgery complete. Oubre, one of three20-points-per-game scorers on the squad, had eight points in 23minutes off the bench.

“We had sometimely buckets for sure,” Hayward said, “but more than anything wegot the stops when we needed them, which has kind of been a problemfor us all year.”

Same for theWolves, who hada lot more riding on this. Theyemerged from their break in seventh place in the WesternConference, with just two fewer wins than the fourth-place Clippersand only two fewer losses than the 13th-place Lakers in thisabsurdly crowded race for the playoffs.

The Wolveshave only seven of their last 20 games at home, the fewest left inthe league, with a daunting majority of their remaining scheduleagainst teams currently above the postseason cut. That might nothurt them, though. They’re 5-8 against the five worst teams in theNBA: Houston, San Antonio, Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando.

The Hornets,who beat the Wolves 110-108 at home on Nov. 25, shot 56% from thefield in the first half for a 72-64 lead.

“Defense, Ithink that’s the main thing we need to be able to bank on,” Edwardssaid. “Every night we need to know that our defense is going to bethere.”

TOWNSSTILL DOWN

Timberwolvesstar Karl-Anthony Towns was sidelined for the 41st straight gamewith a calf strain, an injury that still lacks a clear timetablefor his return.

“He’sdefinitely in the final stages. He’s itching to play,” coach ChrisFinch said. “I don’t think that it’s a question of anything likegoing off path right now.”

TIP-INS

Hornets: Ballset a career best with his fifth straight double-double. His seasonhighs are 33 points and 12 rebounds. ... The Hornets improved to9-25 on the road.

Timberwolves:Naz Reid had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. ... BackupPF Taurean Prince was out for personal reasons.

UPNEXT

Hornets: HostMiami on Saturday night, starting a four-game homestand.

Timberwolves:Play at Golden State on Sunday night, starting a four-game trip toface each of the four California teams. They play at home again in10 days.