Bobcats 105, Timberwolves 93: Al Jefferson led all players with 25 points and 16 rebounds as host Charlotte cruised past Minnesota.

Gary Neal scored 19 points to match his biggest output as a Bobcat and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for Charlotte, which won for the fifth time in its last six games. Gerald Henderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Cody Zeller all contributed 10 points for the Bobcats, who controlled the glass 54-35 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.

Kevin Martin scored 19 points to lead the offense for the Timberwolves, who saw a three-game road winning streak snapped. Kevin Love added 18 points but did not score in the second half for Minnesota and Corey Brewer and Dante Cunningham chipped in with 10 points apiece.

Charlotte kept Minnesota at bay in the third quarter, extending its lead to as many as 18 before the Timberwolves closed the period with five unanswered points to head to the fourth down 88-75. A 3-pointer from Chase Budinger pulled Minnesota to within 10 points with 8:06 remaining but the Bobcats answered immediately with a 3-pointer from Neal and the Timberwolves were unable to respond down the stretch.

Both teams started off hot, combining to shoot nearly 60 percent in a furious first quarter that finished knotted at 33. Charlotte used a 14-2 run, featuring eight points from Neal, midway through the second stanza to open up a 59-43 advantage before Minnesota cut into the margin with a 6-2 spurt to hit the break down 65-53.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bobcats committed 15 turnovers to just 10 for Minnesota but tempered their giveaways with 28 assists, led by seven from G Kemba Walker. ... Minnesota has not won four straight road games since January 2009. ... Neal sat out Charlotte's previous game after what the team classified as an internal issue.