CHARLOTTE Hornets spoiled the 62-point explosion of Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns with a come-from-behind 128-125 beating in the 2023-2024 NBA Season on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Down 89-107 late in the third quarter, the Hornets slowly clawed their way back behind P.J. Washington, Brandon Miller, J.T. Thor, and Terry Rozier to cut the deficit to 117-119.
A three-pointer by Nick Smith Jr. gave the Hornets a 120-119 edge before they widened it to 126-121 with over two minutes remaining via back-to-back conversions from Rozier and Miller.
Free throws by Nickeil-Alexander Walker and Anthony Edwards pulled the Timberwolves to within 125-126 with 38.5 seconds left and they still had a chance to take the lead but Towns lost the ball to Hornets’ Leaky Black.
Black then converted two free throws to give the Hornets a 128-125 lead with a second left. The Timberwolves still had an opportunity to send the game into overtime but Towns missed his triple try.
Miller and Miles Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 27 points apiece, LaMelo Ball had a double-double of 18 points and 13 assists, while Washington and Rozier had 12 and 11, respectively, as they improved to 10-31.
Towns finished with a career-high and franchise record of 62 points, with 43 coming in the first half, while Alexander-Walker and Rudy Gobert added 18 and 13, respectively, as the Timberwolves dropped to 30-13.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid exploded for career-high and franchise record 70 points as Philadelphia 76ers (29-13) cruised to a 133-123 victory over San Antonio Spurs (8-35) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Facing the top-overall pick Victor Wembanyama for the first time, Embiid caught fire in the first half with 34 points before he waxed hot for 25 points in the third quarter as the 76ers kept the Spurs at bay.
Aside from his 70 points, which mostly came from the two-point area and free throws, Embiid also hauled 18 rebounds, dished out five assists and had a steal and a block in the win./PN
BOX SCORE:
CHARLOTTE 128 — Bridges 27, Miller 27, Ball 18, Washington 12, Rozier 11, N. Smith 8, Thor 7, Black 7, I. Smith 6, McGowens 2, Mensah 2.
MINNESOTA 125 — Towns 62, Alexander-Walker 18, Gobert 13, McDaniels 9, Edwards 9, Anderson 5, Reid 5, Milton 4, McLaughlin 0.
Quarterscores: 32-34, 64-69, 92-107, 128-125.
