Timberwolves-Hornets Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Dec 14 2012 3:50PM

Despite Kevin Love's issues with the Minnesota Timberwolves as a franchise, the team has played well of late.

Not even the return of New Orleans' prized rookie has helped the Hornets end their latest slide.

The visiting Timberwolves look to match a season high with a third straight victory and hand the Hornets a sixth consecutive defeat Friday night.

Hours before Minnesota (10-9) beat Denver 108-105 on Wednesday for its fifth win in seven games, Love tried to clarify his comments from a recent Internet story in which he questioned decisions made by team president David Kahn. Though Love stood by what he said about Kahn's building of the team and his complaint of getting a four-year deal instead of the maximum five-year contract extension last January, he remains happy with the team's direction.

Minnesota has averaged 97.9 points over the last seven games after averaging 91.8 in losing each of its previous five.

"I'm not going to fall back and say I didn't mean the things that I said," Love said prior to Wednesday's victory. "I do believe this is the closest-knit team that we have, the coaching staff has been great and we have a chance to make something very special this year and for years to come."

Love was jeered by some Minnesota fans, and not entirely because he shot 3 of 17 and had eight points to go with 14 rebounds against the Nuggets. It was the worst shooting performance when attempting at least eight shots in his career.

"If we can win and I can have a game like that, I'm not going to be mad," said Love, averaging 19.9 points and 14.2 boards in 10 games since missing the first nine with a broken hand. "I was very happy."

With Love struggling, Nikola Pekovic had 22 points with 11 rebounds while Andrei Kirilenko scored 18 and J.J. Barea added 17, eight assists and five rebounds as Minnesota set a season high for points.

"It was a team win," Barea told the Timberwolves' official website. "Our star Kevin struggled a little bit, but everyone else stepped up. That's when a team becomes good."

The Timberwolves have not played all that well lately against the Hornets, averaging 86.8 points and shooting 39.2 percent in losing two straight and three of four. Love, however, has averaged 30.0 points and 14.7 boards in the last three at New Orleans.

If the Hornets' success versus Minnesota is to continue they must snap a five-game skid in which they've averaged 84.8 points and shot 41.1 percent. Though New Orleans (5-16) has had No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis back for the last two contests after an 11-game absence due to a sore ankle, the results have been the same.

Brian Roberts scored 16 points off the bench while Davis added 11 in Wednesday's 92-88 loss at Oklahoma City. The Hornets led by 11 late in the third quarter before the Thunder used a 16-2 run to ultimately control the contest.

"I thought we competed," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "I thought we brought an edge. Obviously we lost the game, but when we compete that way you give yourselves a chance."

The Hornets will try to avoid matching their season high with a fourth consecutive home loss Friday.

The Timberwolves learned Friday that guard Malcolm Lee, a starter for 12 of the last 13 games, will be out indefinitely with an injury to his right knee.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Timberwolves down Hornets 113-102

By BRETT MARTEL
Posted Dec 15 2012 1:51AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Nikola Pekovic planted his 6-foot-11, 290-pound frame in the paint and left no doubt that the Minnesota Timberwolves can still dominate inside when Kevin Love is having an off night.

Pekovic scored a career-high 31 points, Andrei Kirilenko had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Timberwolves won their third straight game, 113-102 over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

"It's just a good night. My teammates were finding me at the right place at the right time," Pekovic said. "I was doing something I do best, sealing people off and playing really close to the basket. That's kind of my game, so everything was good."

Pekovic was 14 for 18 from the field, scoring almost exclusively inside where Minnesota finished with a whopping 70-42 scoring advantage despite the fact that Love hurt his right thumb and made only 4 of 18 shots.

"He's a load when he gets the ball down there," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said.

Love finished with 14 points and X-rays on his injured thumb were negative.

"I'm a little down because I'm trying to work through stuff with my hand and then this happens," Love said. "We won. That's keeping me from out of the gutter."

Luke Ridnour had 15 points and 10 assists. Alexey Shved scored 13 points and Jose Barea 12.

Hornets rookie Austin Rivers had a career-high 27 points, scoring 19 in the first half. Ryan Anderson added 20 points for New Orleans, which has lost six straight and 15 of 17.

"Pekovic was dominant. He dominated all of our bigs tonight," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "Our defense is not even close to what we are used to around here. ... I need to do a better job and get in there and figure out which guys are going to fight for this organization."

Greivis Vasquez added 15 points and a career-high 17 assists. Anthony Davis, playing a reserve role as he works his way back from a left ankle injury, had 11 points and three blocked shots for the Hornets.

Minnesota outrebounded New Orleans 40-30. The Timberwolves had 14 offensive rebounds and 24 second-chance points.

Williams said he was getting tired of highlighting his team's youth as a main reason for why the club is struggling. He noted that the Hornets' small forwards were "absolutely atrocious" when it came to losing players on backdoor cuts, despite coaches harping on the importance of not doing so against Minnesota.

"You can blame it on youth for a little while, but that's just a lack of focus," Williams said.

Both teams shot just better than 53 percent in a game that was competitive into the fourth quarter. The Hornets led 62-59 after Vasquez used a spin move to set up a leaner off the glass, but Ridnour, who made all three 3s he attempted, made one to tie it at 62. Shved followed with a 3 and the Wolves never trailed again.

Kirilenko's dunk off an alley-oop pass from Shved and Pekovic's basket inside, also set up by Shved, made it 82-73 at the end of the third quarter.

New Orleans made one more run, pulling to 90-86 on Brian Roberts' 3-pointer, but Minnesota responded with a 7-0 run during which Kirilenko scored twice inside, once for a three-point play.

Adelman raved about Kirilenko's aggressiveness and play-making. He ran hard on fast breaks, threw down several dunks and opportunistically found his way inside in half-court situations.

"He's terrific," Adelman said. "He's all over the court, and he's the glue of our team. He really is."

Minnesota led by as many as nine points on two occasions early in the second quarter, the second time on Derrick Williams' dunk off an alley-oop pass that made it 42-33.

Rivers then hit two jumpers during a 6-0 run, and he later added a 3 and a driving layup as the Hornets made eight straight shots to close the half and briefly take a 50-48 lead before Kirilenko tied it at 50 at halftime.

Rivers had a career high before he first half ended, offering the Hornets at least one promising story line from another disappointing loss.

"The past three or four games, I've really finally started to get consistent and started to just actually - just breathe and go play," Rivers said. "You've got to find your rhythm. You've got to find your pace - when to go and when not to go and read the defense. That's something that takes time and it seems like each game I feel like I just get better at it."

Notes: Adelman said guard Ricky Rubio, who has been sidelined by a left knee injury since last March, worked out in Minnesota on Friday and could return Saturday night in Dallas. ... The Hornets were without 7-foot reserve F-C Jason Smith with a sprained right shoulder. He's expected to miss up to two weeks because of the injury which occurred Wednesday night at Oklahoma City. ... Minnesota swingman Josh Howard hyperextended his right knee in the third quarter and was not able to return.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Notebook: Timberwolves 113, Hornets 102

Bradley Handwerger
Posted Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:44 PM - Updated Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:44 PM

THE FACTS: The Minnesota Timberwolves used their size advantage in the frontcourt and scored nearly two-thirds of their points in the paint Friday night as they easily moved past the New Orleans Hornets 113-102.

Nikola Pekovic scored 31 points, including 24 inside of four feet from the basket, and Andrei Kirilenko added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who climbed to 11-9 on the season.

Their points more than made up for Kevin Love, who has been hampered by a hand injury. Love shot only 4 of 18 and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Minnesota tried to play a transition game in the first half but went to the break tied at 50 with the undermanned Hornets, who were missing guard Eric Gordon and forward Jason Smith.

But in the second half, Minnesota made the decision to slow down and spread the floor. The result helped the Timberwolves set a season-high for points in the paint with 70.

The Hornets (5-17) kept pace in the first half thanks to Austin Rivers, who scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the opening 24 minutes. In his third game back from an ankle injury, Anthony Davis scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

QUOTABLE: "Our defense is not even close to what we are used to around here and that is a reflection of me and my coaching. I need to do a better job and get in there and figure out which guys are going to fight for this organization. That is not something that we are seeing on a consistent basis."
-- Hornets coach Monty Williams on giving up so many points in the paints.

THE STAT: A trio of numbers combine for this stat because they're all related. Minnesota scored 70 points in the paint against New Orleans. To get there, they outrebounded the Hornets 40-30, including 14 offensive rebounds. And that led to 24 second-chance points.

TURNING POINT: The Hornets kept pace with Minnesota for the first part of the third quarter.

But then Minnesota got going as the quarter began winding down. After New Orleans' Davis pulled the Hornets within 70-68, Minnesota went on a 12-5 run to close the quarter. It was a European explosion that put the Timberwolves over the top. Alexey Shved, from Russia, started the run with a 3-pointer, Pekovic of Montenegro scored the next five points, Russia's Kirilenko then hit a short jumper and Pekovic finished with a layup.

HOT: Pekovic and Kirilenko sank the Hornets. The eastern European duo combined to go 24 of 34 for 52 points. Without their full allotment of big men, the Hornets couldn't find a way to slow down the two, who combined for 24 points in the paint in the second half.

NOTABLE: Minnesota's Josh Howard hyperextended his right knee and didn't return to the game. ... The Timberwolves' Love jammed the thumb on his right hand. X-rays after the game were negative. ... The Timberwolves have set a season-high for points in back-to-back games. Friday night's 113 points bested Wednesday night's 108 against Denver. ... Hornets guard Greivis Vasquez set a career-high for assists with 17. He also scored 15 points. ... New Orleans shot a better percentage than Minnesota -- 53.8 percent to 53.4 -- and fell to 5-4 in games in which that has happened.

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Sunday @ Portland, Tuesday @ Golden State, Wednesday @ Clippers. For the Timberwolves, Saturday vs. Dallas, Monday @ Orlando, Tuesday @ Miami.

• Timberwolves: Budinger, Roy, Rubio
• Hornets: Gordon

• Timberwolves: --
• Hornets: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Officials: #7 Kevin Fehr, #71 Rodney Mott, #42 Eric Lewis
• Attendance: 14671
• Duration: 1:55

Minnesota Timberwolves (12-9)		New Orleans Hornets (5-18)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Lopez vs Pekovic (Kirilenko gains possession)
Ridnour Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Kirilenko (1 AST)	11:49 [MIN 2-0]
	11:30	Rivers Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Ridnour (1 ST)
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Missed	11:24
Love Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	11:20
Love Layup Shot: Missed	11:20
	11:19	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	11:04	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
	11:03	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	11:03 [NOH 2-2]	Aminu Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Missed	10:42
Pekovic Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	10:40
Pekovic Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:40 [MIN 4-2]
	10:31 [NOH 5-4]	Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Aminu (1 AST)
Shved 3pt Shot: Missed	10:15
	10:14	Anderson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:09 [NOH 7-4]	Aminu Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (1 AST)
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:53 [MIN 6-7]
	09:31	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Shved Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:30
Pekovic Jump Shot: Missed	09:14
	09:13	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	09:06	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:05
Shved Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	09:00
	08:42	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	08:41
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Pekovic (1 AST)	08:24 [MIN 8-7]
	08:12 [NOH 9-8]	Lopez Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Rivers (1 AST)
Love Layup Shot: Missed	07:55
	07:54	Anderson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	07:46 [NOH 11-8]	Aminu Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (2 AST)
Pekovic Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)	07:33
	07:27 [NOH 13-8]	Lopez Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (3 AST)
Love 3pt Shot: Missed	07:09
Pekovic Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	07:08
Shved Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (1 AST)	07:02 [MIN 10-13]
	07:02	Rivers Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)
Shved Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	07:02
	07:01	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	06:50	Lopez Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (1 TO)
Love Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Aminu (1 ST)	06:31
	06:26	Vasquez Layup Shot: Missed
Shved Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:25
Ridnour Jump Shot: Missed	06:18
	06:17	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	06:04	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	06:03
Love Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (2 AST)	05:53 [MIN 12-13]
	05:46	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:40 [NOH 16-12]	Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (4 AST)
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (3 AST)	05:16 [MIN 14-16]
	04:57	Vasquez Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Ridnour (2 ST)
	04:46	Lopez Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Love Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	04:46 [MIN 15-16]
	04:46	Anderson Substitution replaced by Davis
Love Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	04:46 [MIN 16-16]
	04:33	Aminu Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Kirilenko (1 ST)
Love Layup Shot: Missed	04:27
Team Rebound	04:26
Love Layup Shot: Missed Block: Davis (1 BLK)	04:24
	04:23	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Ridnour Foul: Personal (1 PF) (2 FTA)	04:20
	04:20 [NOH 17-16]	Rivers Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
	04:20	Aminu Substitution replaced by Miller
	04:20 [NOH 18-16]	Rivers Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)
Ridnour Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Shved (1 AST)	04:06 [MIN 18-18]
	03:57	Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
Kirilenko Jump Shot: Missed	03:42
	03:41	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:29	Rivers Jump Shot: Missed
Pekovic Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	03:28
Pekovic Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Love (1 AST)	03:18 [MIN 20-18]
	03:01	Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Shved (1 ST)
Love 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (4 AST)	02:49 [MIN 23-18]
	02:31 [NOH 20-23]	Davis Jump Bank Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Rivers (2 AST)
Pekovic Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)	02:31
Team Timeout : Regular	02:31
Kirilenko Substitution replaced by Howard	02:31
Pekovic Substitution replaced by Stiemsma	02:31
Ridnour Substitution replaced by Barea	02:31
	02:31	Miller Substitution replaced by Roberts
	02:31	Davis Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Team Rebound	02:29
Love 3pt Shot: Missed	02:15
Barea Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	02:14
Howard Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Barea (1 AST)	02:10 [MIN 25-20]
Shved Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	01:52
	01:52 [NOH 21-25]	Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	01:52	Lopez Substitution replaced by Thomas
	01:52	Rivers Substitution replaced by Anderson
	01:52 [NOH 22-25]	Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
	01:39	Davis Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Love Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	01:39
Team Rebound	01:39
Love Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	01:39 [MIN 26-22]
	01:18	Thomas Jump Shot: Missed
	01:17	Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	01:14	Anderson Layup Shot: Missed Block: Stiemsma (1 BLK)
	01:11	Roberts Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
Love Substitution replaced by Cunningham	01:11
Stiemsma Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	01:02
	01:02 [NOH 23-26]	Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)
	01:02	Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Howard Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:01
Cunningham Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Davis (1 ST)	00:48.9
	00:44.9	Davis Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Barea (1 ST)
Shved Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Barea (2 AST)	00:41.3 [MIN 28-23]
	00:25.9	Thomas Jump Shot: Missed Block: Stiemsma (2 BLK)
Howard Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	00:24.9
Stiemsma Foul: Offensive Charge (2 PF)	00:04.9
Stiemsma Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	00:04.9
Stiemsma Substitution replaced by Williams	00:04.9
	00:00.0	Roberts 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 1st Quarter
Minnesota Timberwolves (12-9)		New Orleans Hornets (5-18)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
	11:44 [NOH 25-28]	Anderson Jump Bank Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Roberts (1 AST)
Barea Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:29 [MIN 30-25]
	11:12	Anderson Foul: Offensive (1 PF)
	11:12	Anderson Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	11:00
	10:59	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	10:46	Thomas Jump Shot: Missed
Barea Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	10:45
Shved 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS)	10:35 [MIN 33-25]
	10:03 [NOH 28-33]	Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Roberts (2 AST)
	09:39	Miller Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)
Howard Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	09:39 [MIN 34-28]
Shved Substitution replaced by Kirilenko	09:39
	09:39	Miller Substitution replaced by Rivers
	09:39	Thomas Substitution replaced by Vasquez
Howard Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	09:39
	09:38	Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	09:21	Roberts Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Barea Turnaround Fadeaway shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:03 [MIN 36-28]
	08:40	Davis Jump Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	08:39
Barea Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Anderson (1 ST)	08:33
	08:24 [NOH 31-36]	Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Roberts (3 AST)
Barea Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	08:11 [MIN 38-31]
	07:53	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	07:52
Howard 3pt Shot: Missed	07:40
Cunningham Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	07:39
Kirilenko Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Barea (3 AST)	07:34 [MIN 40-31]
	07:27	Team Timeout : Regular
	07:27	Roberts Substitution replaced by Aminu
Howard Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (2 FTA)	07:17
	07:17 [NOH 32-40]	Rivers Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
Howard Substitution replaced by Ridnour	07:17
	07:17 [NOH 33-40]	Rivers Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Barea 3pt Shot: Missed Block: Vasquez (1 BLK)	06:55
	06:54	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	06:31	Aminu Jump Shot: Missed
Barea Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	06:30
Williams Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (5 AST)	06:24 [MIN 42-33]
	06:00 [NOH 35-42]	Rivers Pullup Jump shot: Made (12 PTS)
Williams Foul: Offensive Charge (1 PF)	05:37
Williams Turnover : Offensive Foul Turnover (1 TO)	05:37
	05:37
Kirilenko Substitution replaced by Love	05:37
	05:16 [NOH 37-42]	Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Davis (1 AST)
Barea Layup Shot: Missed Block: Aminu (1 BLK)	04:54
Team Rebound	04:53
Love 3pt Shot: Missed	04:44
	04:42	Team Rebound
	04:27	Rivers Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Ridnour (3 ST)
Williams Turnover : 3 Second Violation (2 TO)	04:19
	04:05 [NOH 39-42]	Rivers Pullup Jump shot: Made (14 PTS)
Williams 3pt Shot: Missed	03:39
Team Rebound	03:39
	03:39	Vasquez Foul: Loose Ball (1 PF)
	03:39	Davis Substitution replaced by Lopez
Barea Substitution replaced by Pekovic	03:39
Williams Substitution replaced by Shved	03:39
Love Layup Shot: Missed	03:27
Pekovic Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)	03:26
Pekovic Putback Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	03:24 [MIN 44-39]
	03:10 [NOH 41-44]	Lopez Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Anderson (1 AST)
Pekovic Running Jump Shot: Missed	02:50
Team Rebound	02:50
	02:50	Anderson Foul: Loose Ball (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:50
Cunningham Substitution replaced by Kirilenko	02:50
	02:50	Anderson Substitution replaced by Davis
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Kirilenko (2 AST)	02:40 [MIN 46-41]
	02:11 [NOH 43-46]	Lopez Jump Bank Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (5 AST)
	01:56	Aminu Foul: Personal (1 PF)
Kirilenko Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Shved (2 AST)	01:41 [MIN 48-43]
	01:20 [NOH 46-48]	Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (6 AST)
Love Jump Shot: Missed Block: Davis (2 BLK)	00:57.9
	00:56.4	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	00:51.7 [NOH 48-48]	Davis Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (7 AST)
Pekovic Foul: Offensive (2 PF)	00:42.8
Pekovic Turnover : Foul (2 TO)	00:42.8
	00:32.1 [NOH 50-48]	Rivers Driving Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS)
Kirilenko Jump Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Shved (3 AST)	00:15.2 [MIN 50-50]
	00:06.9	Davis Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Pekovic (1 ST)
End of 2nd Quarter
Minnesota Timberwolves (12-9)		New Orleans Hornets (5-18)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
	11:41	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	11:40
	11:24	Anderson Foul: Personal (3 PF)
Kirilenko 3pt Shot: Missed	11:15
	11:14	Anderson Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	11:05	Rivers Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)	11:05
Pekovic Jump Shot: Missed	10:50
	10:48	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	10:41 [NOH 53-50]	Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (8 AST)
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Missed	10:15
	10:14	Aminu Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
	09:58 [NOH 55-50]	Vasquez Step Back Jump shot: Made (4 PTS)
Ridnour 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Love (2 AST)	09:35 [MIN 53-55]
	09:13	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
	09:12	Lopez Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	09:08 [NOH 57-53]	Lopez Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Kirilenko Dunk Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (6 AST)	09:02 [MIN 55-57]
	08:42	Vasquez Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Shved (2 ST)
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Shved (4 AST)	08:19 [MIN 57-57]
	08:01	Lopez Jump Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	08:00
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (7 AST)	07:54 [MIN 59-57]
	07:34	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Ridnour Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	07:31
Ridnour Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Anderson (2 ST)	07:24
	07:18 [NOH 60-59]	Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (22 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (9 AST)
Shved Jump Shot: Missed Block: Lopez (1 BLK)	06:56
	06:55	Vasquez Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	06:42 [NOH 62-59]	Vasquez Jump Bank Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Ridnour 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Shved (5 AST)	06:25 [MIN 62-62]
	06:11	Vasquez Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	06:10
Shved 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS)	06:00 [MIN 65-62]
	05:32 [NOH 64-65]	Vasquez Driving Bank shot: Made (8 PTS)
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Love (3 AST)	05:10 [MIN 67-64]
	04:54	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:53	Aminu Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	04:30	Rivers 3pt Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	04:29
Ridnour 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Shved (6 AST)	04:20 [MIN 70-64]
	04:19	Team Timeout : Regular
	04:19	Lopez Substitution replaced by Davis
	04:05 [NOH 66-70]	Anderson Turnaround Fadeaway shot: Made (13 PTS)
Love Jump Shot: Missed	03:45
Ridnour Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	03:44
Love Jump Shot: Missed Block: Davis (3 BLK)	03:42
Team Rebound	03:42
Love Jump Shot: Missed	03:31
	03:30	Aminu Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	03:22 [NOH 68-70]	Davis Dunk Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (10 AST)
Shved 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS)	03:01 [MIN 73-68]
	02:44	Aminu Layup Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	02:43
Pekovic Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (18 PTS)	02:32 [MIN 75-68]
	02:32	Davis Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:32
	02:32	Aminu Substitution replaced by Miller
Pekovic Free Throw 1 of 1 (19 PTS)	02:32 [MIN 76-68]
	02:15 [NOH 71-76]	Anderson 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (11 AST)
Pekovic Jump Shot: Missed	01:54
	01:53	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	01:35	Davis Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Ridnour (4 ST)
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (21 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (8 AST)	01:16 [MIN 78-71]
	00:54.9	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:53.6	Anderson Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	00:53.4 [NOH 73-78]	Anderson Putback Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS)
Kirilenko Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Shved (7 AST)	00:39.3 [MIN 80-73]
	00:19.9	Rivers Jump Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:0 Def:8)	00:18.5
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (23 PTS) Assist: Shved (8 AST)	00:12.1 [MIN 82-73]
	00:00.0	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:00.0	Team Rebound
End of 3rd Quarter
Minnesota Timberwolves (12-9)		New Orleans Hornets (5-18)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	11:46
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)	11:45
Shved Driving Layup Shot: Missed	11:39
	11:38	Henry Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	11:23 [NOH 75-82]	Roberts Step Back Jump shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Davis (2 AST)
Love Hook Shot: Missed	11:03
Love Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	11:02
Love Tip Shot: Made (10 PTS)	11:02 [MIN 84-75]
	10:42	Henry Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Kirilenko 3pt Shot: Missed	10:26
Cunningham Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	10:25
Cunningham Layup Shot: Missed	10:22
	10:21	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	10:13	Roberts Jump Shot: Missed
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)	10:12
Team Timeout : Regular	09:56
Love Jump Shot: Missed	09:48
Love Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	09:48
Love Tip Shot: Made (12 PTS)	09:48 [MIN 86-75]
	09:48	Thomas Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)
Love Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	09:48
	09:47	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	09:33 [NOH 77-86]	Henry Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Shved Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Roberts (1 ST)	09:17
	09:09 [NOH 79-86]	Henry Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Shved Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)	09:09
	09:09	Thomas Substitution replaced by Anderson
	09:09	Miller Substitution replaced by Vasquez
Shved Substitution replaced by Ridnour	09:09
	09:09	Henry Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Team Rebound	09:06
Kirilenko Dunk Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (9 AST)	08:52 [MIN 88-79]
Love Foul: Personal (1 PF)	08:41
Love Substitution replaced by Pekovic	08:41
	08:26	Roberts 3pt Shot: Missed
	08:25	Anderson Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)
	08:23 [NOH 81-88]	Anderson Putback Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS)
Barea Jump Shot: Missed	08:14
Pekovic Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)	08:14
Pekovic Tip Shot: Made (25 PTS)	08:14 [MIN 90-81]
	08:14	Vasquez Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)
Pekovic Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed	08:14
	08:13	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)
Ridnour Foul: Personal (2 PF)	07:59
	07:47 [NOH 84-90]	Roberts 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (12 AST)
Barea 3pt Shot: Missed	07:28
	07:27	Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)
	07:15	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Barea Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	07:15
Kirilenko Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	07:07
	06:52 [NOH 86-90]	Roberts Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (13 AST)
Barea Jump Shot: Missed	06:27
Cunningham Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)	06:26
Cunningham Tip Shot: Made (2 PTS)	06:26 [MIN 92-86]
	06:00	Anderson 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	06:00
	06:00	Davis Substitution replaced by Lopez
Kirilenko Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Barea (4 AST)	05:45 [MIN 94-86]
	05:45	Lopez Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (1 FTA)
	05:45
	05:45	Henry Substitution replaced by Rivers
Kirilenko Free Throw 1 of 1 (19 PTS)	05:45 [MIN 95-86]
	05:25	Roberts Jump Shot: Missed
Barea Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	05:24
Barea Jump Shot: Missed	05:18
Kirilenko Rebound (Off:2 Def:9)	05:16
Kirilenko Tip Shot: Made (21 PTS)	05:16 [MIN 97-86]
	05:05	Vasquez Jump Shot: Missed
	05:04	Team Rebound
Pekovic Foul: Loose Ball (3 PF)	05:04
Kirilenko Substitution replaced by Love	05:04
	04:53 [NOH 88-97]	Vasquez Driving Jump shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Rivers (3 AST)
	04:38	Rivers Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
Pekovic Free Throw 1 of 2 (26 PTS)	04:38 [MIN 98-88]
Pekovic Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)	04:38 [MIN 99-88]
	04:18 [NOH 91-99]	Vasquez 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	03:54
Team Rebound	03:54
	03:54	Anderson Foul: Loose Ball (4 PF) (2 FTA)
Love Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)	03:54 [MIN 100-91]
Cunningham Substitution replaced by Kirilenko	03:54
Love Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)	03:54 [MIN 101-91]
Ridnour Violation:Kicked Ball	03:44
	03:35	Rivers Jump Shot: Missed Block: Kirilenko (1 BLK)
Ridnour Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	03:33
Pekovic Dunk Shot: Made (29 PTS) Assist: Ridnour (10 AST)	03:29 [MIN 103-91]
	03:29	Team Timeout : Regular
	03:06 [NOH 93-103]	Roberts Pullup Jump shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (14 AST)
Pekovic Layup Shot: Made (31 PTS) Assist: Barea (5 AST)	02:41 [MIN 105-93]
	02:18	Anderson Fadeaway Jump Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:3 Def:5)	02:17
Barea Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)	01:59 [MIN 107-93]
	01:59	Team Timeout : Regular
	01:59	Lopez Substitution replaced by Davis
Pekovic Substitution replaced by Shved	01:59
	01:43	Vasquez Layup Shot: Missed
Love Rebound (Off:3 Def:6)	01:42
Barea Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	01:26 [MIN 109-93]
	01:17 [NOH 95-109]	Rivers Driving Layup Shot: Made (24 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	01:17
Love Substitution replaced by Cunningham	01:17
Barea Driving Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS)	01:00 [MIN 111-95]
	00:48.6 [NOH 97-111]	Davis Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (15 AST)
Cunningham Jump Shot: Missed	00:24.6
Team Rebound	00:24.6
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	00:24.6
	00:11.2 [NOH 100-111]	Rivers 3pt Shot: Made (27 PTS) Assist: Vasquez (16 AST)
	00:08.0	Vasquez Foul: Personal (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Ridnour Free Throw 1 of 2 (14 PTS)	00:08.0 [MIN 112-100]
Ridnour Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)	00:08.0 [MIN 113-100]
	00:02.8 [NOH 102-113]	Vasquez Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS)
End of 4th Quarter