The Minnesota Timberwolves may still need some time to come into their own, but the Charlotte Hornets are showing what happens when a young core has time to develop. The two teams met in Charlotte Monday night, and Kemba Walker led the home team to a 108-103 win.
It was the third consecutive game in which Walker scored at least 30 points, and it was also the Hornets' fourth straight win. Since the All-Star Break, the Hornets are 7-2, but dating back to the beginning of February, the team is 10-3.
The Timberwolves have a highly talented young core, which includes the last two first-overall NBA Draft selections. They are still putting the pieces together to contend, and they have had their fair share of growing pains, but they are on their way.
If the Hornets' hot streak has proved anything, it is that young talent needs time and finessing. Like the Timberwolves, they have collected several lottery draft picks over the past few years, and now some of those players are taking the biggest strides of their career, Walker in particular.
"I thought we played hard, especially when we needed to," Walker said after registering his 11th 30-point game this season. "This was a very big win for us."
The Hornets went into the half down two to the Timberwolves but outscored their opponent by nine in the third. During that quarter, Walker scored 21 of his team's 35 points, hitting all five three-pointers he attempted and shooting 7-9 from the field overall. Al Jefferson contributed 20 points off the bench, and Marvin Williams and Nicholas Batum combined for 36.
The Timberwolvess' young stars were outstanding against Charlotte, as Andrew Wiggins hit 11 of 17 shots and totaled 25 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and Zach LaVine scored 19. However, Shabazz Muhammad and Tyus Jones only combined for seven points off the bench despite each playing double-digit minutes.
Wiggins, Towns and LaVine may be ahead of their developmental clocks, but the Timberwolves proved Monday night the value of a bench that can do more than just facilitate points.
"We need energy," Timberwolves coach Sam Mitchell said after the game. "We need more than nine points. I think we have too many guys right now that are worried about scoring the basketball... My conversation with them is going to be, start thinking about playing defense, get some steals, some stops. Then get out in transition. That has to be their mindset."
