Walker scores 34, Hornets hold off Timberwolves 108-103

Posted March 07, 2016 6:00 am

By BILL KISER

Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker, left, passes around Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Kemba Walker scored 21 of his 34 points in the third quarter and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-103 on Monday night for their fourth straight win.

Al Jefferson came off the bench to add 20 points, Marvin Williams had 15 and Nicolas Batum 11 for the Hornets.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Anthony Wiggins added 25 points for the Timberwolves, who were up 55-51 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

Walker hit five 3-pointers in the third and Charlotte rallied, leading to seven lead changes and two ties. His jumper with 1:52 left put the Hornets up for good, 74-73.

Charlotte pulled ahead 100-85 on Williams' 3-pointer with 3:50 left in the fourth. Minnesota rallied, though, pulling within 104-101 with 15 seconds remaining before Jeremy Lin hit four free throws over the final 12 seconds for Charlotte.

Ricky Rubio had 10 points and 10 assists, Zach LaVine added 19 points and Gorgui Dieng 12 for the Timberwolves.

An 18-7 run to open the second quarter gave Charlotte its biggest lead of the half, 41-25, on Courtney Lee's jumper with 6:21 remaining.

However, Minnesota closed out the quarter with a 24-6 run, capped by Dieng's follow-up dunk with 3.4 seconds left, to go ahead 49-47.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Have now lost five straight to Charlotte, dating to the 2013-2014 season. ... Forward Kevin Garnett (sore right knee) and center Nikola Pekovic (sore right ankle) were both inactive Monday.

Hornets: Center Spencer Hawes was inactive for the ninth straight game with a lower back strain. ... Walker came close to tying his own team record for points scored in a quarter - 23 points, set against Sacramento on Nov. 23.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Hornets: Host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Charlotte Hornets forward Frank Kaminsky, left, shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins, right, shoots over Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams, center, battles Minnesota Timberwolves forward Tayshaun Prince for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) The Associated Press

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