Bobcats 89, Timberwolves 87: Kemba Walker had a team-high 22 points and drilled a 19-foot jumper prior to the final buzzer as visiting Charlotte rebounded after squandering a late 14-point lead for its third straight victory.
Ramon Sessions scored 18 points off the bench and Byron Mullens had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Bobcats (4-3), who secured their fourth victory in their 30th game last season. Charlotte finished with seven wins in the lockout-shortened campaign.
After Walker's 3-pointer gave Charlotte an 85-71 lead with 4:22 left, Andrei Kirilenko scored five of his game-high 26 points during the Timberwolves' spirited 16-2 run to tie the game.
Walker wasn't about to let Minnesota complete the comeback and drilled a stunning 19-footer with 0.7 seconds remaining.
Kirilenko shot 9-of-12 from the field and added 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who struggled mightily from the floor without leading scorer Nikola Pekovic (sprained left ankle).
GAME NOTEBOOK: Charlotte recorded its first three-game winning streak since emerging victorious in four straight from March 25-30, 2011. ... Kirilenko and Luke Ridnour (16 points, 10 assists) combined to go 6-of-8 from the floor for 17 points in the first quarter. The rest of the Timberwolves went 2-for-14. ... In addition to Pekovic, Brandon Roy missed his third straight game with a sore right knee while J.J. Barea sat out his fourth consecutive contest with a left foot sprain.
Charlotte | Minnesota | |
Kemba Walker 22 | Scoring | Andrei Kirilenko 26 |
Kemba Walker 5 | Assists | Luke Ridnour 10 |
Byron Mullens 15 | Rebounds | Andrei Kirilenko 12 |
Kemba Walker 3 | Free Throws Made | Andrei Kirilenko 5 |
Kemba Walker 4 | Steals | Luke Ridnour 2 |
Byron Mullens 4 | Blocks | Lou Amundson 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Charlotte | 89 | 45.2 | 4-16 | 9-14 | 15 | 43 | 12 | 11 | 18 |
Minnesota | 87 | 38.3 | 5-19 | 20-37 | 20 | 53 | 11 | 7 | 17 |