Charlotte Hornets: Walker hits 30 again, Hornets win
The Charlotte Hornets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves behind another big effort from Kemba Walker.
Do the Charlotte Hornets need to raise the bar? All season long Kemba Walker has been scoring in the mid-twenties and the Hornets normally win those games. The last three games have seen Walker in the thirties, like what happened last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Is this the new normal? The Hornets beat the Timberwolves 108-103 behind thirty-four points from Walker.
Walker was also the leading assist man for the Hornets, recording six. That would be the third time in four games where he has led the team in points and assists. It appears that the Hornets intend to ride him to do this all the time.
The other big contributor was Al Jefferson with twenty points off the bench. It was just a couple of years ago when the Hornets (then the Bobcats) used Walker to recruit Jefferson on the idea that they could do big things together. This sixth man role may not have been what anyone thought would happen, but it is working out.
Marvin Williams continues to play out his contract year on a high note. He scored fifteen points and grabbed seven rebounds. Nicolas Batum was also in double figures with eleven points.
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Still the young and talented Timberwolves played the Hornets close. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns both scored in the upper twenties. Ricky Rubio had ten assists. Big dunker Zach LaVine had nineteen points. Charlotte had the better bench though with a 38-9 bench scoring advantage. The Timberwolves were missing big men Kevin Garnett and Nikola Pekovic.
The Hornets keep winning and taking advantage of a favorable stretch in the schedule. Still in the six spot, the Hornets have moved a half a game behind the Atlanta Hawks for the five seed. Miami is still two and half games ahead sitting in the fourth and final home playoff seed.
Next: Hornets Guards beat Indiana
The Hornets have been doing this run without reserve big man Spencer Hawes, and his return could offer more depth for a team aiming for a playoff run.
The Hornets next game is tomorrow night when they will play the New Orleans Pelicans at home. With every win mattering, beating the Western Conference member Pelicans would go a long way to keep the momentum going.