Towns scores 28, Gobert has season-high 26 and Timberwolves beat Hornets 123-117

By RICHARD WALKER

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Karl-Anthony Towns scored 28 points, Rudy Gobert had a season-high 26 and grabbed 12 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished strong to beat the Charlotte Hornets 123-117 on Saturday.

Charlotte led by four with 4:53 remaining before Towns and Gobert combined to score eight points in a 13-3 surge that put the Timberwolves ahead 115-109 with 2:02 left. Charlotte would get no closer than three the rest of the way.

Minnesota improved the best record in the Western Conference to 15-4. Naz Reid scored 23 points and Mike Conley finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

The Timberwolves scored the game's first 10 points and led by 12 points in the first quarter before Charlotte narrowed it to 88-87 after three.

Terry Rozier scored 23 points and Miles Bridges had 22 for the Hornets. P.J. Washington added 18, Gordon Hayward had 17 and rookie Brandon Miller 14.

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Timberwolves: Host San Antonio on Wednesday.

Hornets: At Chicago on Wednesday.