Hornets 104, Timberwolves 92: Greivis Vasquez had his third straight double-double with 18 points and 13 assists and host New Orleans erased an early 18-point deficit to extend its season-best winning streak to four games.
Eric Gordon scored 16 points, Ryan Anderson added 15 and reserve Jason Smith had 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for the Hornets, who shot 57.4 percent in the second half and 52.4 overall (44 of 84).
Luke Ridnour scored 20 points and Nikola Pekovic added 18 as all five Minnesota starters scored in double figures. Due to injuries, the Timberwolves had only nine players dress for the game.
Pekovic and Ridnour had 10 points apiece and Minnesota ran off 16 consecutive points to take a 29-14 lead after one quarter. New Orleans got back in the game in the second quarter with a 10-0 spurt and pulled within 46-40 at the half on Gordon's 3-pointer.
The Hornets used a 13-3 burst to open a nine-point lead in the third quarter and never let Minnesota get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Al-Farouq Aminu had 12 points and 13 rebounds to help New Orleans control the backboards 44-31. ... Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points for the Timberwolves, who were missing Kevin Love (hand), J.J. Barea (back), Chase Budinger (knee), Malcolm Lee (knee) and Lazar Hayward (illness). ... New Orleans limited Minnesota to 15 points in the third quarter and has allowed 88.8 points during its four-game winning streak.
Minnesota | New Orleans | |
Luke Ridnour 20 | Scoring | Greivis Vasquez 18 |
Alexey Shved 7 | Assists | Greivis Vasquez 13 |
Dante Cunningham 9 | Rebounds | Al-Farouq Aminu 13 |
Andrei Kirilenko 8 | Free Throws Made | Eric Gordon 3 |
Andrei Kirilenko 2 | Steals | Al-Farouq Aminu 3 |
Nikola Pekovic 2 | Blocks | Robin Lopez 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Minnesota | 92 | 44.9 | 4-18 | 26-33 | 20 | 31 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
New Orleans | 104 | 52.4 | 8-22 | 8-9 | 29 | 44 | 3 | 5 | 13 |