New Orleans Hornets thrash the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves 95-81
Revenge was in the air as the New Orleans Hornets finally managed to beat the slumping Timberwolves 95-81 on Friday night.
After beating the defensively stout Hornets in their previous two match-ups this season, the Timberwolves were looking for a clean sweep over the Hornets.
The Hornets had different ideas though.
Trevor Ariza scored 18 points for the Hornets, including four three pointers. Chris Paul contributed 17 points with six rebounds and eight assists as the duo combined to send the Timberwolves’ to their seventh straight loss.
Power forward David West and the leading scorer from the Hornets was away from the team on Friday night due to a sudden death in his family. They however had a big boost as Emeka Okafor returned to the starting line-up after an
injury layoff. Okafor played very well and made an instantaneous impact; he scored ten points and gathered seven rebounds with two assists.
The Hornets made their intentions clear right from the tip-off. Chris Paul added nine points; Trevor Ariza scored eight points, Jason Smith and Willie Green combined for twelve point’s contribution as the visitors took a 35-26
at the end of the first quarter.
From the Timberwolves Kevin Love scored seven points and Wesley Johnson also contributed seven points in the first quarter.
The Hornets continued to burst through the Timberwolves defense in the second quarter as well and went into the break with an imposing lead of 55-43. The Wolves on the other hand were struggling to convert their shots from the
field. Kevin Love in particular, did not add any point in the second quarter.
The shooting woes continued in the third quarter as well. The Wolves combined to score just 18 points. Luke Ridnour from the Wolves scored ten points in the third quarter while Love added five points.
At the end of the third quarter score was 79-61, and the Timberwolves ended the final quarter of the game and scored 20-16. Love did not plot a single point in the final quarter and Ridnour just added two points. The Hornets finally
took-over the Timberwolves 95-81.
From the Wolves Wesley Johnson led with 22 points, Luke Ridnour also added 22 points and Kevin Love Scored 11 points and he gathered 14 rebounds with five assists.
Although it was a frustrating night for the Minnesota fans, they had one moment to savor. That moment came early in the fourth quarter when Kevin Love seized his 10th rebound to pull out his double-double line to 45 straight games
and exceeded Moses Malone for the second-longest double-double streak since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
The crowd appreciated his performance, but Love was very disappointed at the end of the game he said: "This is kind of turning into last year, and I hate to say that".
Tags: