Bobcats 102, Timberwolves 101: Kemba Walker collected 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Gerald Henderson drained a desperation 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 4.6 seconds left as Charlotte snapped a franchise-record 16-game home losing streak.
Ramon Sessions scored 23 points off the bench and Henderson finished with 15 for the Bobcats, who earned their first home win since Nov. 21 against Toronto. Bismack Biyombo added 10 points and 13 rebounds and scored two key baskets down the stretch.
Luke Ridnour racked up 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who have lost a league-high eight games when leading after three quarters. J.J. Barea added 19 points for Minnesota, including a 3-pointer that tied it at 97 with 1:10 left.
The Timberwolves led by as many as 18 in the first quarter and took a 58-47 lead into halftime. The Bobcats chipped away and finally took their first lead of the game at 81-79 on Walker's jumper. Biyombo was fouled putting back a Tyrus Thomas miss and converted a three-point play to push the Bobcats' lead to 91-83, but Ridnour scored five quick points to keep Minnesota in it and the game went back-and-forth the rest of the way.
Ricky Rubio's driving layup gave the Timberwolves a 101-99 lead with 29 seconds left. At the end of the chaotic ensuing possession, Henderson launched a desperate shot from the left wing for the lead, and Barea's last-ditch effort never made it to the rim at the buzzer.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Walker has scored in double figures in 14 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career. … Henderson had missed his previous six 3-pointers over a four-game span before hitting the game-winner. … After winning their first eight games when scoring 100 or more points, the Timberwolves have lost two straight despite hitting the century mark.
Minnesota | Charlotte | |
Luke Ridnour 22 | Scoring | Kemba Walker 25 |
Ricky Rubio 8 | Assists | Kemba Walker 8 |
Luke Ridnour 7 | Rebounds | Bismack Biyombo 13 |
Andrei Kirilenko 6 | Free Throws Made | Ramon Sessions 9 |
Ricky Rubio 5 | Steals | Kemba Walker 3 |
Greg Stiemsma 2 | Blocks | Brendan Haywood 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Minnesota | 101 | 48.1 | 10-20 | 17-23 | 23 | 30 | 4 | 8 | 17 |
Charlotte | 102 | 50.7 | 5-11 | 23-26 | 21 | 38 | 10 | 5 | 17 |